Friction stir welding of fiber reinforced thermoplastics

摘要

A method of making a fiber-reinforced component (10) includes: providing a first composite member (12) having a thermoplastic matrix (18) with reinforcing fibers (20) distributed therein; providing a second composite member (14) having a thermoplastic matrix (18) with reinforcing fibers (20) distributed therein; and joining the first member (12) to the second member (14) by friction stir welding along a predetermined joint path (16), such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers (20) within the joint path (16) is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in the composite members before joining. A fiber-reinforced component (10) includes: first and second members (12), (14) each having a thermoplastic matrix (18) with reinforcing fibers (20) distributed therein. The first member (12) is bonded to the second member (14) by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path (16), such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers (20) within the joint path (16) is substantially the same as an average volume fraction thereof in remainder of the members.