RESISTANCE WELDING OF THERMOPLASTIC COMPOSITE COMPONENTS

摘要

Apparatus (10) and associated method for joining thermoplastic composite components (66, 68) to one another. Firstly, an electrically-conductive carbon-fibre textile (74) is positioned between two pieces of thermoplastic composite (66, 68) to form a weldable assembly (64), and pressure is applied to the weldable assembly (64). A voltage is then applied across the carbon-fibre textile (74) to heat the carbon-fibre textile (74), thereby melting the thermoplastic (82) of a carbon-fibre textile facing surface (78, 80) of each thermoplastic composite (66, 68), wherein the melted thermoplastic (82) fluidly fills the inter-fibre space (84) of the carbon-fibre textile (74). Upon removing the voltage to allow the carbon-fibre textile (74) to cool, a weld (86) forms between the two thermoplastic composites (66, 68) as the thermoplastic sets.

主权项

1. A method for joining thermoplastic composite components to one another, comprising the steps of:
a) positioning an electrically-conductive non-metal pliantly flexible membrane between two pieces of thermoplastic composite to form a weldable assembly; b) applying pressure to the weldable assembly; c) applying a voltage across the flexible membrane to heat the flexible membrane, thereby melting the thermoplastic of a flexible membrane facing surface of each thermoplastic composite, wherein the melted thermoplastic fluidly fills the inter-fibre space of the flexible membrane; and d) removing the voltage to allow the flexible membrane to cool, a weld forming between the two thermoplastic composites as the thermoplastic sets.