PEO-Coated Peelable Shims for Consistent Laminate Strength
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional laminated shims do not consistently provide desirable material properties across all layers, making them potentially the weakest link in assemblies due to varying quality, especially in aerospace and defense applications where precise gap management is critical.
Innovation Solution
A method involving plasma electrolytic oxidation (PEO) of shim stock to create PEO shims, followed by application of an adhesive layer and stacking to form a PEO coated peelable laminate, which enhances material properties and allows for adjustable thickness by peeling layers, ensuring consistent quality and strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional laminated shims are used, then gap filling is achieved, but material property consistency across layers is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The PEO coating process is applied to all shim layers before lamination, preparing the surface in advance to ensure consistent material properties and adhesion characteristics across all layers, eliminating the need for post-manufacturing quality variations
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies plasma electrolytic oxidation treatment to transform the surface properties of shim stock, changing parameters such as surface hardness, wear resistance, and adhesion characteristics to achieve consistent high-quality properties across all laminate layers
2Strength
If PEO coating is applied to shim stock, then material properties such as wear resistance and toughness are improved, but manufacturing process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical surface treatment methods with plasma electrolytic oxidation, an electrochemical process that achieves superior surface hardening and wear resistance without complex mechanical equipment or multi-step procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The PEO process utilizes strong oxidizing conditions through plasma electrolysis to rapidly form hard, wear-resistant oxide layers on the shim stock surface, achieving enhanced material properties through accelerated oxidation rather than slow natural processes
3Adaptability or versatility
If adhesive layers are applied between PEO shims, then peelable separation is enabled, but adhesion consistency becomes critical
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies adhesive layers at specific locations between PEO-coated shim layers, creating localized bonding zones that enable controlled peelable separation while maintaining consistent adhesion characteristics through the uniform PEO surface preparation on all contacting layers
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The PEO coated peelable laminates exhibit improved mechanical properties, such as wear resistance and toughness, with peel strengths between one and five pounds per linear inch, and can withstand water immersion, addressing the inconsistency and weakness issues of conventional shims.
Implementation Method 1
subjecting a shim stock to a plasma electrolytic oxidization (PEO) process to create a PEO shim
Implementation Method 2
applying an adhesive layer of an adhesive to a surface of the PEO shim stacking at least one other PEO shim onto the adhesive layer
Data Source
AI summary
A method for producing a laminated shim includes subjecting a shim stock to a plasma electrolytic oxidization (PEO) process to create a PEO shim, applying an adhesive layer of an adhesive to a surface of the PEO shim, stacking at least one other PEO shim onto the adhesive layer of the PEO shim to create a stack of PEO shims, and pressing the stack of PEO shims together to create a PEO coated peelable laminate.