Investigating Thermal Interactions in the Case of Laser Assisted Joining of PMMA Plastic and Steel

Laser transmission joining of dissimilar materials is a novel and promising area of researches on joining technology. However, processes during laser assisted metal plastic (LAMP) joining are not completely explained yet. In the course of this study, the authors investigated the joining process of PMMA plastic and steel by means of laser, as a part of their research on dissimilar material joining. The characteristic process temperature was measured during the joining by different heating conditions, to describe thermal interactions between the polymer and the metal part, and to better understand the mechanism of joining.