Diffusion bonding of transition structures for integral aluminium‐fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) compounds

Abstract

Components in hybrid design become more and more important in terms of their lightweight potential. In this context the demand for weight saving in aerospace leads to increasing numbers of applications of fibre composites for primary structural components. In consequence the use of FRP‐metal compounds is necessary. Within the investigations of the researcher group “Schwarz Silber” (FOR 1224) founded by the DFG (German Research Foundation) material optimised interface structures for advanced CFRP‐aluminium compounds are currently being studied. Within their work the researcher group focussed on three concepts realizing the transition structures: the usage of wires (titanium), foils (titanium) and fibres (glass fibre) as transition elements between CFRP and aluminium. For the connection of the aluminium sheet and the transition element die‐casting and laser beam welding are basically used. As a possible alternative to the both liquid phase processes a feasibility study haven been done focussing the solid state processes diffusion bonding. The experimental results show the high potential of this process in view of the transferable loads for integral transition structures.

Joining of carbon fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) composites and aluminium alloys – A review

“…There is no study on direct diffusion bonding between aluminium alloys and CFRPs, though researchers have used wires (titanium), foils (titanium) and fibres (glass fibre) between aluminium and CFRPs as transition elements in the course of diffusion bonding [67][68][69][70]. In these cases, one side of titanium wire or foil was diffused to aluminium while the other was holding CFRPs.…”