Title: Influence of Functionalized Iron Oxide Nanoparticles on the Mechanical Performance of Elium® Liquid Thermoplastic Adhesives

Authors: Abdifitah Adan, Syed Fahad Hassan, Mohamed Abdelwahab, Mahmoodul Haq

DOI:

Abstract: While thermoset adhesives have long been the industrial standard for structural joining, advanced thermoplastics such as Elium® are increasingly emerging as sustainable, highperformance alternatives due to their recyclability, ease of manufacture and compatibility with rapid automated manufacturing. Despite these advantages, the relatively poor mechanical performance of Elium limits its adoption in critical structural applications. In this study, iron oxide (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles were incorporated into Elium at 2.5 wt%, with surface functionalization employed to mitigate agglomeration and enhance interfacial bonding. Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles were modified using 3-(trimethoxysilyl) propyl methacrylate (3-MPS) to promote covalent interactions with the Elium matrix, as confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy. Aluminum single-lap joints were fabricated using neat Elium, Elium with unmodified nanoparticles, and Elium with functionalized nanoparticles, and tested under lap shear loading at a displacement rate of 2 mm/min. Lap shear results showed that functionalized nanoparticle reinforcement increased maximum stress by ~50% relative to neat Elium. Notably, the functionalized system also exhibited a substantial increase in strain to failure (~76%), indicating simultaneous improvements in strength and ductility. These findings demonstrate that nanoparticle surface functionalization is an effective strategy for overcoming dispersion-related limitations in Elium and significantly enhancing.

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Conference: SAMPE 2026

Publication Date: 2026/04/27

SKU: 131

Pages: 11

Price: $22.00