Measurement of Adhesion Using The Island Blister Test

This thesis focuses on the refinement and application of the island blister test (IBT) initially proposed and demonstrated by Allen and Senturia. to the measurement of the specific interfacial fracture energy of polyimides (hexafluorodianhydride-aminophenoxybiphenylin (HFDA-APBP), pyromellitic dianhydride-oxydianiline (PMDA-ODA), and biphenyldianhydride-phenyldiamine (BPDA-PDA)) to metals (Cr and Al). A finite element model developed by Margaritis using the modified crack closure technique provides an analysis of the debonding process. The mode I and mode 11 contributions along with the plastic dissipation are separately calculated through the model. A new sample fabrication process was developed to produce circular blister sites at yields approaching I 0%. Refinements in the testing methodology increase testin