TWI Industrial Member Reort Summary 875/2007
By F C Smith, A L Buxton, B G I Dance and C L Spence
Background
A proprietary material surface treatment technique and joining process (1), developed recently at TWI, offers the potential for joints to be made between composite materials and metals with enhanced performance. The joining process, known as ComeldTM, involves pre-treatment of the metal surface using a technique called Surfi-SculptTM. Initial research performed at TWI has shown that Comeld joints provided significant performance benefits in comparison to control joints. However, the full extent of this technology was still unknown therefore this work was initiated to develop understanding, provide fabrication guidelines and examine the limits of this technology for the benefit of Member companies.
Objectives
- Increase understanding of joints made using Comeld technology.
- Provide guidelines for joint manufacture, incorporating Comeld, for a range of composite production techniques.
- Demonstrate the difference in mechanical properties between joints with and without Comeld technology.