Adhesive-reinforced aluminum hollow fan blade for bonded cover retention
Disclosed herein is a blade for an engine comprising a blade cover and a blade body. A first adhesive bond is disposed between the blade cover and the blade body. A second adhesive layer is disposed on a surface of the blade cover and a periphery of the blade body that surrounds the blade cover. The second adhesive layer is in a protective relationship with portions of the first adhesive bond that are exposed to the atmosphere in the absence of the second adhesive layer.
1 . A blade for an engine comprising:
a blade cover;
a blade body;
a first adhesive bond disposed between the blade cover and the blade body; where the first adhesive bond comprises a polyurethane elastomer;
a polyepoxide adhesive disposed on an entire surface of the blade cover and an entire surface of the blade body; where the polyepoxide adhesive is in a protective relationship with portions of the first adhesive bond that are exposed to the atmosphere in the absence of the polyepoxide adhesive.
2 . The blade of claim 1 , where the polyepoxide adhesive has a greater strength and stiffness as compared with an adhesive that is used in the first adhesive bond.
3 . The blade of claim 2 , where the adhesive used in the first adhesive bond has greater toughness and impact strength when compared with the adhesive that is used in the polyepoxide adhesive.
4 . The blade of claim 1 , further comprising an erosion-resistant coating disposed on the polyepoxide adhesive.
5 . The blade of claim 4 , where the erosion-resistant coating comprises an elastomer.
6 . The blade of claim 5 , where the elastomer comprises a silicon atom, a fluorine atom, or both a silicon atom and a fluorine atom.
7 . The blade of claim 5 , where the elastomer comprises a polysiloxane elastomer, a fluorosilicone elastomer, a fluoroelastomer, a perfluoroelastomer, or a combination thereof.
8 . The blade of claim 1 , where the polyepoxide adhesive contacts the first adhesive bond along an outer periphery of the blade cover.
9 . The blade of claim 1 , wherein the blade body and the blade cover both comprise one of aluminum, a ceramic matrix composite, or fiber-glass.
10 . The blade of claim 9 , where the fiber-glass comprises glass fibers and a polyepoxide or carbon fibers and a polyepoxide.
11 . The blade of claim 1 , where the polyepoxide adhesive has a decreased moisture permeation rate compared to the first adhesive bond.
12 . A method for manufacturing a blade for an engine comprising:
applying a layer of adhesive precursor to an inner surface of a blade cover;
applying the inner surface of the blade cover to a blade body;
curing the layer of adhesive precursor to form a first adhesive bond between the blade cover and the blade body; where the first adhesive bond comprises a polyurethane elastomer;
applying a polyepoxide adhesive to an entire surface of the blade cover, that is opposed to the inner surface, and an entire surface of the blade body; where the polyepoxide adhesive is in a protective relationship with portions of the first adhesive bond that are exposed to the atmosphere in the absence of the polyepoxide adhesive.
13 . The method of claim 12 , where the polyepoxide adhesive has a greater strength and stiffness as compared with an adhesive that is used in the first adhesive bond.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising disposing an erosion-resistant coating on the polyepoxide adhesive.
15 . The method of claim 14 , where the erosion-resistant coating is applied via a spray coating or electrostatic spray painting.
16 . The method of claim 12 , where the polyepoxide adhesive is applied via a spray coating, painting, dip coating, doctor blading or electrostatic spray painting.