Feasibility Study of the Friction Spot Welding (FSpW) Process in Thermoplastics

The modern thermoplastics show a wide range of engineering applications, mainly due to its good processability and properties, such as stress-to-weight ratio and toughness. However, the manufacturing of larger products with complex geometries require advanced polymer welding techniques. Friction Spo...

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Published inSoldagem e Inspecao / Welding and Inspection Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 96 - 103
Main Authors De Oliveira, Pedro Henrique Freiria, De Traglia Amancio Filho, Sergio, Dos Santos, Jorge Fernandes, Hage Junior, Elias
Format Journal Article
LanguagePortuguese
Published 01.06.2012
Subjects
Airspace
Feasibility studies
Friction
Polymethyl methacrylates
Spot welding
Thermoplastic resins
Vickers microhardness
Welding
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Summary:The modern thermoplastics show a wide range of engineering applications, mainly due to its good processability and properties, such as stress-to-weight ratio and toughness. However, the manufacturing of larger products with complex geometries require advanced polymer welding techniques. Friction Spot Welding (FSpW) is a joining technique allowing the fabrication of joint with good mechanical properties. In this work, the feasibility of the FSpW of thermoplastics was investigated in polymethyl-methacrilate (PMMA), an amorphous thermoplastic with increasing importance in the airspace and automotive industry due to its good processability, weldability aging and chemical resistance. The welded samples were analyzed by optical microscopy and Vickers microhardness measurements and mechanically tested. Lap-shear testing showed ultimate shear resistance values of about 9,5 MPa, which were similar or higher than values obtained through current PMMA welding techniques, such as microwave welding, ultrasonic welding and thermal bonding. Therefore, the present work was able to demonstrate the potential of FSpW as an alternative welding process for thermoplastics.
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ISSN:0104-9224
DOI:10.1590/S0104-92242012000200003