In the course of the constantly growing requirements for new products and components, monolithic material solutions can only fulfil the required property profile to a limited extent. Composite materials are increasingly being used in order to achieve synergy effects and thus a customised range of properties by combining different materials. However, sustainable utilisation of the materials in the sense of recycling is thereby neglected.

In this study the technical applicability of a technology for adhesive “debonding on demand” due to an exothermic reaction of a blowing agent for the debonding of hybrids was examined. The aim of this study is to induce a significant reduction of adhesive strength of the hybrids by thermally activating the blowing agent in the adhesive. For this purpose, the additives were blended into a two component, epoxy-based adhesive to create a dismantlable adhesive system. For mechanical characterization of a simple geometrical lightweight structure, planar hybrid sheets consisting of steel and carbon fibre reinforced plastic were manufactured. Hybrid specimens were extracted from the sheets and tested with the edge shear test. The activation of the additives was carried out by thermal convection and was thoroughly investigated under application of varying heat treatment. The investigation showed that the adhesive strength of the hybrid specimens was significantly reduced in case the additives had been activated. A reduction of maximum shear strength by 80 % was observed. Moreover, a significant interference of adhesive strength due to the blending of the additives under absence of thermal activation of the additives was negated by comparing the adhesive strengths without thermal activation of additive specimens with those of specimens without additives. Furthermore, activation of the additives and thus an undesired weakening of the adhesive matrix below the determined temperature of activation was not present. Hence, a safe application of the technology below the temperature of activation is ensured. The technology for adhesive debonding on demand due to an exothermic reaction of additives is found applicable for adhesive debonding of hybrids for lightweight design.