Advances in Structural Adhesive Bonding

David A. Dillard is Adhesive and Sealant Science Professor, in the Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics Department at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, USA. He has worked extensively in the field of adhesive bonding, having experience in structural adhesives for aerospace, automotive, and infrastructure applications, adhesives and coatings for microelectronic applications, pressure sensitive adhesives, elastomeric adhesives and sealants, and polymeric membranes. Prof. Dillard has authored or co-authored over 185-refereed publications and regularly teaches courses in adhesion science, polymer viscoelasticity, and sustainable energy solutions. His research involves developing test methods and predictive models for understanding and estimating the performance and durability of polymeric materials, adhesives and bonded joints, using the principles of fracture mechanics and viscoelasticity. Over the past several years, he has become active in applying these concepts to sustainable energy products including proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solar photovoltaic applications. Prof. Dillard has received several awards in recognition of his research.