Direct joining of carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic to an aluminum alloy using friction lap joining

A carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic (polyamide 6 with 20 wt.% carbon fiber addition) and an aluminum alloy (A5052) were joined using friction lap joining. The joint characteristics were evaluated to investigate the effects of A5052 surface treatments and the joining speed on the joint properties. Carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic and A5052 were joined via an interfacial magnesium oxide layer. Surface grinding of the A5052 generated the aluminum hydroxide on the alloy surface and increased the tensile shear strength of the joint. The tensile shear strength increased as the joining speed increased from 100 to 1600 mm min−1, and decreased thereafter.