Apparatus and method for establishing or for separating a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shape matching of at least one metal or ceramic component and of a component formed from or by a thermoplastic polymer

A method of establishing or of separating a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shape matching of at least one metal or ceramic components (1) and of a component (2) formed from or by a thermoplastic polymer in which the components (1 and 2) are pressed together by a pressing device having a counterholder (4) and a plunger (3), with a heating of the polymer taking place at least during the pressing together by at least one heating device (6) that is present at the plunger (3) and/or at the counterholder (4) and with a heating of the at least one metal or ceramic component (1) taking place here up to above the softening temperature and below the decomposition temperature of the component (2) formed from or by polymer within a joining region, wherein

• the heating device (6) that is formed by at least one electrical resistance heating element that is covered by a ceramic protective film is operated in a controlled or regulated manner if, on the one hand, the heating behavior is known and has preferably been determined in advance or if a spatially resolved detection of the temperature within the joining region is carried out on the heating;
• and/or
• in a further alternative in which the heating is carried out within the joining region in a regulated or controlled manner by at least one laser beam on the metal or ceramic component(s) (1) by an influencing of the deflection movement of the laser beam, of its beam shape, and/or of the energy that can be coupled in a locally defined manner into the material of the metal component within the joining region;
• and/or
• in a third alternative, the required heating is carried out with at least one inductor that is present at the plunger (3) and/or at the counterholder (4) and that is configured for the inductive heating of the metal component(s) (1) and in so doing a regulation or control is performed by which a locally defined heating is achieved within the joining region;
• and
• a plastic deformation of the thermoplastic polymer takes place to establish a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shape matching;
• or
• tensile forces act at metal or ceramic components (1) that are exerted by means of a movement of the plunger (3) and of the counterholder (4) to separate a connection having material continuity or having material continuity and shape matching after the reaching of a temperature of the thermoplastic polymer that is above the softening temperature.