Depending on the process, various factors have to be taken into account. During riveting, for example, the fibre layers are damaged by delamination during the pilot drilling. Drilling also weakens the component. Furthermore, the power transmission between the components to be joined is very limited locally. In bonded parts, the gap width can cause problems. Nevertheless, it is the standard process for joining fibre composites due to the uniform power transmission that makes optimum use of the material properties.
What the individual processes look like will be demonstrated by the Institute for Welding and Joining Technology (ISF) at RWTH Aachen, Oxford Advanced Surfaces and Weiss Chemie + Technik, to name but three exhibitors at Composites Europe.
BMW focuses on adhesive technologies for e-vehicles
For manufacturing the CRP body of its e-vehicles i3 and i8 BMW foregoes mechanical joining processes and relies exclusively on a special gluing technology, which has now developed into the standard process for these model series. This process avoids mechanical damage to the carbon fibre reinforced plastic components thereby increasing component stability while saving costs at the same time.
The adhesion of the glue here is determined by the relevant surface priming. Due to the versatile properties of composites, this priming varies by application - in terms of both the matrix and the fibres used. On top of this, process parameters and materials also influence the adhesion quality and durability of the bonded connection. On account of this complexity the research and evaluation of proven processes and new technologies for joining fibre composites and other hybrids are at the centre of numerous scientific studies.
Thermal direct joining as an alternative to classic processes
Experts at the Karlsruhe Institute for Technology (KIT) have developed a novel, strong and low-cost joining technology for gluing structural components. This hybrid process combines inorganic and organic adhesive layers and is therefore substantially cheaper and more hard-wearing. In joining technology this is particularly suitable for connecting structural components and therefore applicable in numerous sectors such as wind power, construction but also in automotive and mechanical engineering.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology (IWS) Dresden seeks to replace bonding processes entirely with the HeatPressCool-Integrative (HPCI) process. This so-called thermal direct joining presses laser-textured metal with thermoplastic components and heats them locally. In this way, the thermoplastic melts, penetrates the textures and adheres to the surface. Joining guns specifically developed for this purpose produce strong connections within seconds.
Fibre lasers permit contact-free joining
For the form-fitted and substance-bonded connection of fibre-reinforced thermoplastics (organic sheeting) with metal, the IWS experts have also developed the so-called slot-web principle. The organic sheeting only serves as a web plate, a metal sheet as a slot plate. A fibre laser is used for bonding. It makes for a very finely adjusted heat input and heats the protruding part of the fibre-reinforced web plate - contactless and at the precise position. The two-dimensional and high-frequency beam deflection by means of scanner lenses allows uniform heating of the plastic. Here the right heating concept ensures the quality of this sensitive process.
The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Applied Material Research (IFAM) in Bremen has developed a test line for the automated bonding of fibre composite boards for aircraft construction partnering with CFK-Valley Stade for a project. The process saves costs over conventional methods and is also important for all industries that require lightweight, dimensionally stable and low-cost components.
More efficiency by combining 3D printing and organic sheeting
With this move, the project partners have succeeded in replacing the so far manual frame assembly by filling the slot in a completely automated process. With a view to future mass production, the required drive intelligence has also been provided for. With the help of the decentralised concept even a high number of drives can be concentrated on a small footprint and adjusted and efficiently controlled in a modular way with little wiring.
In the LightFlex project scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology (IPT) in Aachen focus on a combination of 3D printing and organic sheeting from unidirectional semi-finished parts. To optimise the load-bearing capacity the 3D printed components are joined with a fibre composite component. For this, custom-sized organic sheets are used which are produced on a so-called PrePro line with a near-net shape. This approach minimizes cut-off waste and results in marked savings considering the high energy consumption involved in carbon fibre production.
Composites Europe 2018 in Stuttgart
From 6-8 November, Composites Europe will show all the manufacturing processes used to make fibre-reinforced plastics, from raw materials to processing methods to lightweight construction innovations in automotive engineering, aerospace, boatbuilding, wind energy and construction.
Visitors will meet to the tune of 300 exhibitors from 30 countries in Stuttgart, the leading technology region of the industry in Germany, the leading research and development country worldwide, who'll put on display state-of-the-art technology and the potential of composites -and not just in the exhibition space but also in the numerous event areas, lecture forums, themed guided tours and workshops.
Composites Europe is organised by trade fair organiser Reed Exhibitions in cooperation with the European industry association EuCIA and the trade association Composites Germany, a coalition whose members include the industry associations and clusters AVK, CCeV, CFK-Valley and the VDMA Working Group Hybrid Lightweight Technologies.
