Ultrasonic Metal Welding of Aluminium Sheets to Carbon Fibre Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

• Published in: Advanced engineering materials Vol. 11; no. 1-2; pp. 35 - 39
• Main Authors: Balle, Frank, Wagner, Guntram, Eifler, Dietmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim WILEY-VCH Verlag 01.01.2009; WILEY‐VCH Verlag; Wiley-VCH
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Bonding mechanism; Exact sciences and technology; Joining, thermal cutting: metallurgical aspects; Mechanical properties; Metal/CFRP-joints; Metals. Metallurgy; Multi-material design; Ultrasonic metal welding; Welding; Scanning electron microscopy; Aluminium base alloys; Thermoplastics; Ultrasound welding; Operating mode; Mechanical properties; Shear strength; Fibre reinforced plastics; Experimental device; Weldability; Tensile strength; Carbon fiber
• ISSN: 1438-1656; 1527-2648
• DOI: 10.1002/adem.200800271

The ultrasonic welding technology is an innovative method to produce hybrid joints for multi‐material components. The investigations described in this paper were carried out using the ultrasonic metal welding technique for joining carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites (CFRP) with sheet metals like aluminium alloys or aluminium‐plated steels. The achievable mechanical properties as a function of the process parameters are presented. Additionally, microscopic investigations of the bonding zone are discussed. One important advantage of ultrasonic metal welding is the possibility to realise a direct contact between the load bearing fibres of the reinforced composite and the metallic surface without destroying the carbon fibres.