TOWARDS A CHEMISTRY OF COHESION AND ADHESION

Modern chemistry frequently describes the structure and reaction dynamics of molecules in terms of the general principle of "competition for bonds"; consequently, bonding forms the basis of the language of chemistry. The actual models used to represent these bonds are frequently system specific. Organic reactions are described in terms of bonds based on pairs of atomic valence electrons. Reactions of inorganic coordination complexes are described in terms of bonds based on a molecular orbital representation. In analogy to those chemistries, a representation for a bond and bond strength, suitable for describing the cohesive and adhesive properties of all classes of materials, is introduced. This representation proves to yield an explanation for the observed cohesive properties of a specific class of materials (cleavage in bcc metals), and it also provides a framework for exploring and analyzing the more complex phenomena of cohesion and adhesion, such as environmentally-induced embrittlement. A complete chemistry of cohesion and adhesion will require die demonstration that the specific bonding model used can form the basis for consistent interpretations for a wealth of experimental phenomena beyond environmentally-induced embrittlement; thus, as presented, this model does not provide a complete chemistry of cohesion and adhesion, but does embody the first steps in that direction.