Laser welding process and strength enhancement of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites and metals dissimilar joint:A review

Carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composites(CFRTP)and metals hybrid structures have been widely used in aircraft lightweight manufacturing.However,due to the significant difference in physical and chemical properties between CFRTP and metals,there are lots of challenges to connect them with high quality.Laser welding has a good application prospect in CFRTP and metals connection,and a significant research progress has been made in the exploration of CFRTP-metal laser joining mechanism,joining process optimization,joining strength improvement and joining defects controlling.However,there are still some problems need to be solved for this technology application.In this paper,the research progress of CFRTP-metal laser joining was summarized in three major aspects:theoretical modeling and simulation analysis,process exploration and parameter optimization,joint performance improvement and process innovation.And,problems and challenges of this technology were discussed,and the outlook of this research was provided.

Laser joining of CFRTP to titanium alloy via laser surface texturing

Grid pattern was textured on Ti-6 Al-4 V alloy(TC4)substrate surface by nanosecond laser system.Laser joining of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic composite(CFRTP)to TC4 joints were performed,and the effect of texture grid depth was investigated.The contact angle of molten CFRTP on textured TC4 surface was measured and the tensile-shear force was tested.The fracture surface and interface morphology were observed.The results indicated that the wettability of molten CFRTP on TC4 surface improved remarkably after laser textured TC4.Shear force of CFRTP/TC4 joints was increased by 156%after laser textured TC4 surface.When the depth of grid was deeper than 100μm,contact angle increased and incomplete filling of molten CFRTP in grid occurred,the shear force thus decreased gradually.Resin-carbon fibers mixture was adhered on the fracture surface of TC4,and the variation tendency of adhesion ratio was consistent with that of shear force.TC4 matrix was exfoliated from substrate and adhered at the fracture surface of CFRTP,indicating stronger mechanical interlocking occurred at the joining interface after laser textured TC4 surface.Beside mechanical interlocking,compound layer consisted of CTi_(0.42)V_(1.58)carburization phase was also confirmed at interface,suggesting that chemical bonding also occurred at the joining interface.