Vibration Welding of Continuously Reinforced Thermoplastic Composites

Abstract

Continuous fiber reinforced composites are used in a variety of aerospace, automotive and industrial applications. The ability of thermoplastic composites to be melted and subsequently resolidified allows joining processes such as vibration welding to be used. In this research, vibration welding was used to join polypropylene plates reinforced with woven glass fibers. The effect welding parameters, such as meltdown, weld pressure and weld geometry were investigated. Vibration welding is shown to join highly reinforced composite materials with weld strengths approaching those of short fiber composites.