The Dutch-language Adhesive Specialist training courses have been running successfully since January 2011. The training is designed for executives, engineers and quality staff in the adhesives processing industry and for employees involved in the production and sale of adhesive products.
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Purpose of training
Participants are trained in the use of adhesive techniques in an industrial production environment and in product development. Upon successful completion of this training, participants will be able to draw up work instructions and lead executive activities, assisting craftsmen in technical and practical aspects. They also will be able to work out, organise and monitor adhesive processes, as well as monitor and adjust process parameters when necessary. They are able to identify deviations in a production process and then respond correctly.
Duration of training and examination
The Adhesive Specialist training is full-time and lasts 120 hours, including examination. To support the learning process, theory is alternated with practical exercises. A written test is taken three times during the training. Then, in the final period, the practical and oral exam takes place.
Target group and conditions for participation
The target group includes employees of adhesive-processing or adhesove-producing companies. The course is specifically designed for the bonding of metals, elastomers, plastics, fibre-reinforced plastics and glass and is aimed at executives in the manufacturing industry. The target group also includes engineers, quality and commercial staff with higher education and managerial responsibilities who want to increase their knowledge in the field of adhesive technology. Participants must have a good skill of the Dutch language, so that they understand the training material well and are also able to take the exams. Prior education at MBO level 4 in a technical discipline is required, as well as a minimum age of 20 years and 2 years of work experience. However, an HBO education in mechanical engineering or chemistry is desirable.
Training content
Basic concepts
The training starts by covering basic concepts in adhesive techniques. The advantages and limitations of adhesive bonding are named, compared to other joining techniques. The integrity of an adhesive bond is explained using the conceptual model of bonding forces. Similarly, the influencing factors surrounding the quality of the adhesive bond are explained. The main topic is the importance of benatility in adhesive processes and how this can be influenced. Participants gain knowledge about the fundamental aspects of the properties of adhesives and adhesive bonds.
Adhesive types
There are thousands of different adhesive products. The product range goes from elastic soft Polyurethanes, to the high-strength Epoxies. In this part of the training, participants are introduced to the most important adhesive types used in the industry, as well as their properties and areas of application. Emphasis is placed on the importance of applying these different adhesive types in the right way, under the right curing conditions. These aspects are further substantiated through practical exercises.
Adhesive parts
The training gives participants knowledge and understanding of the structure and behaviour of different adhesive part materials, under mechanical load and usage conditions. This helps in estimating the deformation behaviour of adhesive layers and leads to better understanding around the need to perform material-specific surface treatments
Surface treatment
Appropriate surface treatment is paramount for a good, durable and, in particular, reproducible adhesive bond. The course introduces surface techniques commonly performed by professionals as part of the adhesive bonding process. Practical experiments give participants the necessary experience in applying adhesive techniques to different materials/glue parts. Topics to be covered include cleaning the adhesive part surface, through mechanical, physical and chemical surface preparation methods to the use of primers and adhesion improvers.
Properties of the adhesive layer
To assess whether an adhesive is suitable for a particular application, it is necessary to understand its deformation behaviour under certain conditions. Or, in other words, the factors that determine the deformation behaviour thus provide the limits for the use of a particular adhesive system. Fillers and absorbed moisture influence the deformation behaviour as much as temperature and thickness of the adhesive layer.
Measuring methods
The quality of an adhesive bond is determined by many more factors than just high strength after curing. Other factors that are equally important concern reproducibility and durability. The necessity of using destructive testing in determining the quality of the adhesive bond is shown using test pieces, which the participants make themselves during the training. The limitations in translating measurement results from standardised tests, to real adhesive parts is made clear.
Occupational health and safety and environment
“Ignorance” is the main cause of accidents at work. Properly handling adhesive systems requires extensive fundamental knowledge of the specific hazards associated with working with them. This involves not only the adhesive (components), but also the other substances used in the adhesive process, such as cleaners, primers and adhesion improvers. Furthermore, the importance of using protective equipment and PBMs is emphasised.The training starts by covering basic concepts in adhesive techniques. The advantages and limitations of adhesive bonding are named, compared to other joining techniques. The integrity of an adhesive bond is explained using the conceptual model of bonding forces. Similarly, the influencing factors surrounding the quality of the adhesive bond are explained. The main topic is the importance of benatility in adhesive processes and how this can be influenced. Participants gain knowledge about the fundamental aspects of the properties of adhesives and adhesive bonds.
