Cheap and efficient way to weld metal and plastic
Michigan Engineering researchers have developed a method for welding metal and polypropylene, a lightweight plastic commonly used in automobiles.
Combining different materials, such as metal and plastic, is a desirable technique for the light-weighting of vehicles, however, the chemical composition of plastic makes it impossible to join to metal without adhesives and fasteners.
The team achieved this by using a thin material that they place between the metal and aluminum, providing a bridging that allows the two materials to join. They achieved this joining by using a frictional tool that applies heat and pressure to the two materials, creating a strong multi-material joint.
This development joins other metal and plastic welding processes developed by the team, offering an affordable light weighting solution for manufacturers.
This work was performed in the lab of Pingsha Dong, the Robert F Beck Collegiate Professor of Engineering and a professor of naval architecture and marine engineering.
https://name.engin.umich.edu/people/d...
If you have questions for the research team, please use the form on the Welded Structures Laboratory website: https://wsl.engin.umich.edu/contact-us/
Read more:
https://news.engin.umich.edu/2022/11/...
The research was detailed in two recent journal publications:
Publication: Journal of Manufacturing Processes
Paper: Joining of Metal and Non-Polar Polypropylene Composite through a Simple Functional Group Seeding Layer
Date: November 22, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmapro.2022...
Publication: Journal of Materials Processing Technology
Paper: Enabling interfacial amorphous microstructure and high bonding strength in Al-Fe bimetallic components by a large-area solid-state additive manufacturing
Date: July 16, 2022
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmatprotec....
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