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Friction spot joining is an alternative technique to produce metal-composite overlap joints. The main process parameters are tool rotational speed, plunge depth, joining time and joining force. In this study, the individual effect of the process parameters on the microstructure and mechanical strength of hybrid AA6181-T4/CF-PPS double lap joints was investigated using Taguchi method and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Produced joints presented mechanical performance from 2107 N to 3523 N. Joints failed by brittle fracture at the interface between aluminum alloy and composite, with displacement-at-peak load values from 0.7 mm to 0.9 mm. Tool rotational speed was the parameter with the largest influence on the joint shear resistance, followed by the joining time, plunge depth and joining force. Higher strength was correlated to the extension of the bonding area and macro-mechanical interlocking related to the formation of a metallic indentation (metallic nub) slightly inserted into the composite. Larger bonding areas were shown to be related to higher heat input (as a result of longer joining times and intermediate rotational speeds) leading to larger consolidate polymeric layers at the metalcomposite interface. Higher macro-mechanical interlocking was obtained at larger plunge depths. Joining force was shown to be related to crevice and pore filling of the metal surface by supporting spreading of the molten polymer. Higher joining forces led to better wetting of the interface increasing adhesive forces and joint mechanical performance. Nevertheless excessive joining forces caused squeezing flow of the molten layer reducing joint strength, since a large adhesive area was lost.

Friction Riveting (FricRiveting) is an innovative, fast and energy-efficient spot joining process used to join lightweight hybrid metal-polymer and metal-composite structures. In this process, a cylindrical metallic rivet is used to join one or more thermoplastic components by means of plasticizing and deforming the tip of a metallic rivet through frictional heating and pressure inside the polymeric parts. This work studies the feasibility of the FricRiveting technique for polycarbonate/aluminum 2024-T351 alloy spot joints by investigating the temperature development (measured by infrared thermography), microstructure (evaluated by optical microscopy) and mechanical properties (investigated by tensile testing) of the joints. The thermographic temperature investigation indicated that the average peak process temperatures were from 280

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