Friction heating for joining dissimilar materials
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsYen-Lung Chen, Peter H. Foss, Mark W. Verbrugge, Xiaohong Q. Gayden
Life of this patent
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Abstract
One side of a metal sheet is joined to a polymer layer by applying heat to a joining area on the opposite side of the metal. The heat flows through the thin metal to activate a thermoplastic material or heat setting polymer into a bond with the metal. The method can be used to bond the metal sheet to a plastic body or another metal member. It is preferred to use a friction or friction stir tool to heat the metal surface.
Claims18
A method of attaching a first automotive polymeric body panel with an interposed polymer layer to one side of a second automotive metal sheet body panel, the method comprising:
- placing the first automotive polymeric body panel with interposed polymer layer in a predetermined region against the one side of the second automotive metal sheet body panel, such that the polymer layer is between the first automotive polymeric body panel and the second automotive metal sheet body panel;
- and
- heating the opposite side of the second automotive metal sheet body panel at the predetermined region opposite the polymer layer, heat being conducted through the second automotive metal sheet body panel to the region of the polymer layer, as the sole means of heating the polymer layer to obtain adhesive or mechanical attachment of the interposed polymer layer and the first automotive polymeric body panel in the predetermined region with the one side of the second automotive metal sheet body panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.