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.
Claims20
A method of attaching a thermoplastic polymer body in a predetermined region to one side of a metal sheet, the method comprising:
- forming a hole through the metal sheet at the predetermined region;
- placing the thermoplastic polymer body against the one side of the metal sheet covering the hole in the metal sheet;
- heating the opposite side of the metal sheet at the predetermined region opposite the thermoplastic polymer body by pressing an end of a rotating tool in frictional engagement with the metal sheet surrounding the hole, heat being conducted through the metal sheet to the predetermined region of the thermoplastic polymer body to heat soften a portion of the thermoplastic polymer body to form heat softened thermoplastic material;
- then
- urging the heat softened thermoplastic material into the hole and into mechanical engagement with the metal sheet;
- and
- stopping the heating to cool the heat softened thermoplastic material and form a mechanical attachment between the metal sheet and the thermoplastic polymer body.
A method of attaching an automotive thermoplastic polymer panel in a predetermined region to one side of an automotive metal panel, the method comprising:
- forming a hole through the automotive metal panel at the predetermined region;
- placing the automotive thermoplastic polymer panel against the one side of the automotive metal panel covering the hole in the metal panel;
- heating the opposite side of the automotive metal panel at the predetermined region opposite the automotive thermoplastic polymer panel by pressing an end of a rotating tool in frictional engagement with the automotive metal panel surrounding the hole, heat being conducted through the metal panel to the predetermined region of the thermoplastic polymer panel to heat soften a portion of the thermoplastic polymer panel to form heat softened thermoplastic material;
- then
- urging the heat softened thermoplastic material into the hole and into mechanical engagement with the automotive metal panel;
- and
- stopping the heating to cool the heat softened thermoplastic material and form a mechanical attachment between the automotive metal panel and the automotive thermoplastic polymer panel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.