Ensuring a bond will hold is the most important component of adhesion. At times, a successful bond could change a life.
A revolutionary prosthetics company knew that its unique and innovative product was changing lives, so there was no tolerance for failures. As the need for prosthetics continues to grow, companies must build a product that is as strong as the human body. It must withstand the stresses of weight bearing, pivoting, uneven surfaces, etc., but also must be comfortable and lightweight. They produce a prosthetic that mimics the human form. The product must withstand the stresses of everyday life to enhance the lives of amputees. Prosthetics are meant to catalyze, not hinder, an individual’s physical ability. The expectations of this product are extremely high, and there is no room for error or failure.
This manufacturer needed a way to verify the bonds of their dissimilar materials, which included carbon fiber and titanium. Bonding was necessary as traditional fasteners would not be able to withstand the varying stresses of a prosthetic. In preparation for bonding, the manufacturers sanded and solvent-wiped the material. Verifying this surface treatment would be the key to a successful and reliable bond. The manufacturer came across the challenge of finding an accurate and precise way to verify this surface preparation process on a complex-shaped, 3D material.
When the company recruited the Surface Analyst, they found just this. The instrument provided an accurate, precise way to measure their complex surfaces prior to bonding. This quantifiable, accurate process helps the manufacturer confidently make a revolutionizing product that significantly helps amputees live their lives comfortably.
