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Ultrasonic spot welding of aluminum sheet/carbon fiber reinforced polymer – joints
Author(s) -
Balle F.,
Wagner G.,
Eifler D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
materialwissenschaft und werkstofftechnik
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.285
H-Index - 38
eISSN - 1521-4052
pISSN - 0933-5137
DOI - 10.1002/mawe.200700212
Subject(s) - materials science , ultrasonic welding , welding , composite material , spot welding , plastic welding , electric resistance welding , carbon fiber reinforced polymer , heat affected zone , cold welding , polymer , softening , fibre reinforced plastic , shear (geology) , arc welding , filler metal , gas metal arc welding , composite number
Current demands on light weight constructions lead to an increasing use of light weight metals such as aluminum or magnesium alloys as well as fiber reinforced polymers (FRP). Suitable welding methods are necessary to join these dissimilar material groups and to integrate them in engineering structures. At the Institute of Materials Science and Engineering the ultrasonic metal welding technique was successfully applied to realize aluminum sheet/carbon‐fiber‐reinforced polymer (CFRP) ‐ joints. The welding during this process occurs in two steps: First the ultrasonic shear waves lead to a softening and displacement of the polymer matrix out of the welding zone. In the second step a direct weld between the load bearing carbon fibers of the CFRP and the aluminum alloy sheet is generated. A welding time of less than 5 s and no damage of the carbon fibers are important advantages of the process. Actually tensile shear strengths of about 30 MPa were achieved for the joints. By means of light microscopic and SEM investigations the bonding mechanisms can be described in detail. Possible application fields of such welds can be seen in the automotive or in the aircraft industry.