Review of polymer-matrix composites welded to aluminium alloys

Abstract

This review covers previous work by different scholars on welding polymer-matrix composites to aluminium alloys between 2015 and 2021. The highest tensile shear stress measured for the joint between polymer-matrix composite and aluminium (AA7075) alloy was 59.9 MPa. Welding using top-thermic friction stir was the method that produced the desired outcome. Additionally, the aluminium (AA2024) alloy and fibre-reinforced polymer composite were joined using an ultrasonic metal welding procedure, which produced a weld with a high tensile shear strength of roughly 58 MPa. The friction-aided joining of carbon fibre-reinforced polyphenylene sulphide composites and aluminium (AA7075) alloy has been studied by researchers. A laser treatment was applied to the aluminium surface to enhance the interlocking between the two materials being combined. This development was reported to cause inadequate bonding between the polymer-matrix composite and the metal. Despite this, the joints demonstrated significant load-bearing capacities of up to 10.7 kN.