Delamination refers to the separation between the foam core and face sheets. It is one of the most serious structural failures in composite sandwich systems because it compromises load transfer efficiency.
Common causes include:
- Poor adhesive bonding
- Surface contamination
- Incompatible resin systems
- Moisture intrusion
- Thermal stress mismatch
- Repeated fatigue loading
Proper surface preparation is critical. Many structural foam cores use:
- Grooved surfaces
- Perforations
- Scrim finishes
These treatments improve resin flow and mechanical interlocking during lamination.
Engineering-quality bonding systems are essential in:
- Wind turbine blades
- Marine structures
- Aerospace interiors
- Transportation panels
