Experimental Studies on Laser-based Hot-melt Bonding of thermosetting Composites and Thermoplastics

This paper presents experimental results of joining carbon fiber (CF) reinforced thermosetting composites (TSC) to thermoplastics (TP) by means of laser-based hot-melt bonding. First of all the influence of different laser systems (λ = 355 nm and λ = 1064 nm) on the ablation of the thermosetting matrix (epoxy) with preferably little damage to the CF is analyzed by means of microscopy. Afterwards the laser-based joining process of TSC and TP is carried out. Finally the joining connections are characterized by tensile shear tests. Thereby the influence of the surface treatment and the used thermoplastic (PC/ABS, PA66 or PA66-GF30) on the tensile shear strength is investigated.