Boeing aircraft skin and wing adhesive bonding

Boeing was proud of using adhesive bonding to join skins and wings to last 30 years — but they put rivets in anyway, because over 30 years interface corrosion will weaken the bond. Used to illustrate that adhesive joints are never quite trusted for life-safety long-term use.

I remember thirty years ago, the guy who was my NSF monitor told me the story about going through the Boeing plant. At Boeing they were very proud of the fact they were now using adhesive bonding to join the skins and wings of aircraft. They told him how they had improved that adhesive bonding technology to the point they could now use it to make commercial airliners that would last thirty years. They took him out on the floor, and yes, they were using adhesive bonding — but then they were putting rivets in. He says, well, why are you doing that? They said, oh, just to be sure, because in thirty years adhesive bonds are going to get weaker. Over time you get some corrosion at the interface as things migrate in.