EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF JOINING THE METAL/POLYMER/METAL COMPOSITE SHEETS BY CLINCHING METHOD

Advances in sandwich composites have given rise to materials that amalgamate the elevated flexural stiffness and buckling resistance found in metals with the lightweight characteristics of polymers. These materials exhibit significant potential for use in contemporary lightweight structures, not solely due to the aforementioned attributes, but also owing to their effective provision of sound, vibration, and thermal protection. In the structures using sandwich materials, joining methods based on fusion welding, adhesive bonding or mechanical fastening are employed. Clinching is a manufacturing technique that mechanically joins two or more materials without the need for heat or additional components. This method relies on achieving high plastic deformation to establish a secure bond. The research deals with the possibility of using the clinching method for joining metal/polymer/metal composite sheets in combination with high-strength steel and micro-alloyed hot-dip galvanised steel sheets. The clinching method with a rigid die proves unsuitable for joining the examined combinations of sandwich material with steel sheets.