delaminate

Delaminate is a verb meaning to separate or cause to separate into layers that were previously bonded in a laminated material. Delamination refers to the process or the resulting condition in which the adhesion between layers fails, allowing the layers to detach or peel apart. The term is used across materials science, engineering, and manufacturing.

Delamination occurs when interfacial adhesion is weaker than the stresses applied to the laminate. Common causes include mechanical impact or cyclic loading, thermal expansion or contraction from heating or cooling, moisture ingress and chemical attack, improper surface preparation or adhesion, manufacturing defects, and aging of materials or adhesives. Delamination can be progressive, starting at weak interfaces or defects and spreading with time.

Industries affected include construction and wood products (plywood and laminated timber may delaminate under moisture or loading), composite materials (carbon fiber or glass fiber-reinforced polymers can lose laminate integrity after impacts or fatigue), and laminated glass (interlayer separation leading to visible peeling). Electronics and aerospace also contend with delamination in bonded joints, packaged chips, or laminated protective films.

Detection and prevention: detection methods include visual inspection, ultrasonic or infrared non-destructive testing, and peel or bond-strength testing. Prevention focuses on selecting compatible materials and adhesives, ensuring proper surface preparation, controlling cure or lamination conditions, sealing against moisture, and designing for adequate interfacial strength and redundancy.

See also: delamination, adhesion, interlaminar fracture.