A synergy of atmospheric plasma and UV-additive incorporated PU and styrene–isoprene-styrene adhesive for improving inter-layer adhesion in PVF/Fabric/BOPET laminate for aerostat envelope

Engineers and material scientists face a significant challenge in finding the right adhesive and technology to join the layers of a multi-layered laminated composite for making lightweight aircrafts. This paper focuses on a novel method of exposing substrates to atmospheric-plasma using different purging gases and subsequent adhesive-lamination. Three separate plasma-exposed layers— polyvinyl fluoride (PVF) film, polyester fabric, and biaxially oriented polyethylene terephthalate (BOPET) film were joined together using two different solvent-borne/pressure-sensitive adhesives, based on polyurethane and styrene–isoprene-styrene. Both adhesives were compounded with organic UV-additives and nano-carbon black for improving weather resistance. The composite laminates were exposed to accelerated weathering for 100 h to qualify for the targeted application of aerostat envelope/hull.