Abstract

OLIVEIRA, Pedro Henrique Freiria de; AMANCIO FILHO, Sergio de Traglia; SANTOS, Jorge Fernandes dos  and  HAGE JUNIOR, Elias. Feasibility study of the Friction Spot Welding (FSpW) process in thermoplastics. Soldag. insp. [online]. 2012, vol.17, n.2, pp. 96-103. ISSN 0104-9224.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0104-92242012000200003.

The modern thermoplastics show a wide range of engineering applications, mainly due to its good processability and properties, such as stress-to-weight ratio and toughness. However, the manufacturing of larger products with complex geometries require advanced polymer welding techniques. Friction Spot Welding (FSpW) is a joining technique allowing the fabrication of joint with good mechanical properties. In this work, the feasibility of the FSpW of thermoplastics was investigated in polymethyl-methacrilate (PMMA), an amorphous thermoplastic with increasing importance in the airspace and automotive industry due to its good processability, weldability, aging and chemical resistance. The welded samples were analyzed by optical microscopy and Vickers microhardness measurements and mechanically tested. Lap-shear testing showed ultimate shear resistance values of about 9,5 MPa, which were similar or higher than values obtained through current PMMA welding techniques, such as microwave welding, ultrasonic welding and thermal bonding. Therefore, the present work was able to demonstrate the potential of FSpW as an alternative welding process for thermoplastics.

Keywords : Union; Polymers; Friction; FSSW; PMMA.