Fraunhofer-Institut für Produktionsanlagen und Konstruktionstechnik IPK

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Feasibility study of joining of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites and aluminium alloys by electron beam welding for use in lightweight construction

2023-05-12 , Yalcinyüz, Behiye Aybike , Brunner-Schwer, Christian , Biegler, Max , Rethmeier, Michael

In recent years, new solutions to reduce the weight of components used in the automotive, railway, and aircraft industries have been researched. Carbon Fibre Composites (CFC) have been used to replace metals in products requiring lightweight construction, such as aircraft or high-performance vehicles due to their exceptional mechanical strength. However, the use of CFCs is limited by the reason of their poor thermal conductivity, particularly on components requiring effective dissipation of power losses. To respond to the requirements, the idea of the material combination of metals and polymer-based composites is proposed. In this study, electron beam welding is used for the joining of aluminium alloys and polymer-based composites. Within the experiments, the relevant process parameters such as beam current, welding speed, and heat input have been optimized to achieve the welding of the aluminium alloys. Then, the joining of aluminium alloys and carbon fibre-reinforced polymer composites has been investigated through the optimized welding process parameters for aluminium alloys. Conclusions are drawn regarding the carbon-fibre reinforced polymer composites (PA6-CF) and aluminium alloys (AlMg3) being joinable through electron beams.

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Hybrides Auftragschweißen: Potentiale des laserunterstützten Plasma-Pulver-Auftragschweißens (PTA)

2018 , Brunner-Schwer, Christian , Graf, Benjamin , Rethmeier, Michael , Schreiber, Frank

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Mechanical properties of laser welded joints of wrought and heat-treated PBF-LB/M Inconel 718 parts depending on build direction

2023 , Simón Muzás, Juan , Brunner-Schwer, Christian , Hilgenberg, Kai , Rethmeier, Michael

Laser-based Powder Bed Fusion of Metal (PBF-LB/M) is a broadly used metal additive manufacturing (AM) method for fabricating complex metallic parts, whose sizes are however limited by the build envelope of PBF-LB/M machines. Laser welding arises as a valid joining method for effectively integrating these AM parts into larger assemblies. PBF-LB/M components must usually be stress-relieved before they can be separated from the build plate. An additional heat treatment can be beneficial for obtaining homogeneous mechanical properties across the seam or for the formation of desired precipitations in nickel-based-alloys. Therefore, the tensile performance of laser welded hybrid (AM/wrought) and AM-AM tensile samples of Inconel 718 is examined after undergoing three different heat treatments and considering three relevant build directions. It can be shown that the build orientation is an influencing factor on weld properties even after two applied heat treatments.

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A life cycle assessment of joining processes in the automotive industry, illustrated by the example of an EV battery case

2023 , Brunner-Schwer, Christian , Lemke, Josefine , Biegler, Max , Schmolke, Tobias , Spohr, Sebastian , Meschut, Gerson , Eckstein, Lutz , Rethmeier, Michael

Current ecological, economic and social changes are leading to a change in development, design and production of future vehicles. In this context, it is the stated goal of many manufacturers to advance the development of an environmentally friendly vehicle and climate-neutral production throughout the entire supply chain. This study presents a comparative life cycle assessment of the joining processes laser beam welding, laser brazing and resistance spot welding. For this purpose, an approach tailored to welding processes is presented and applied to the example of a battery case for electric vehicles. For the welding process under consideration, the main influences on the resulting environmental impact categories are evaluated and compared. The requirements for ecologically efficient welding processes are discussed and outlined. The results show that particularly the materials involved, such as the consumption of the filler material, have the greatest environmental impact and thus offer the greatest potential for savings.

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