Metal/FRP Connection Module – A Powder Metallurgical Approach

Abstract

The Development of Fiber Reinforced Plastics (FRP) offers a great opportunity for applications in automobile industry, aeronautics and consumer goods to achieve light weight structures. However, the connection technology between FRP and mainly metallic based structures is the key to use the full potential of the FRP. Out of this motivation recent developments address this aspect.Using the powder metallurgical approach to generate a metal/ FRP connection module by spark plasma sintering a great variety is possible by integration of different metal and/ or fiber components. In this work aluminum and stainless steel was chosen for the upper and lower metallic side. The fibers integrated into the metal were glass, basalt and carbon fiber in one layer, two layer and mixed layer configuration. To connect the sintered module to greater CF weaves an infiltration process with a room temperature curing resin was used in a modified vacuum infusion (MVI) setup. In not optimized configuration the shear test after infiltration indicated an initial value for module shear strength above 20 MPa which can be enhanced in future developments by optimized armor between the upper and lower metal side and the number of integrated fiber layers of the connection module. A model is predicted to calculate the module shear strength in sintered state by multiplication of the armor area with the shear strength of the armor material. First experiments additionally show the possibility to weld the connection module directly to metallic structures.