| 摘要 |
A composite fastener, preferably in the form of a rivet, which comprises a shank having a first head integrally formed on one end thereof, the shank and head formed of a high temperature thermoplastic matrix material selected from the group consisting of a polyether ether ketone resin and a polyamide imide resin, and having continuous reinforcing fibers, such as graphite fibers, axially oriented in substantially parallel relation throughout the shank, the fibers being flared and extending continuously into the head and substantially evenly flared and swaged therein, thereby forming a fastener having high shear and high tensile characteristics. The rivet is installed to fasten a plurality of structural components together by providing a conical tip on a forming tool, such as a heat gun or ultrasonic welding device for plastics, placing the tip in contact with the central portion of the other end of the rivet and upsetting and melting the matrix material under controlled conditions to form a second head, the fibers in the second head being flared and extending continuously into the second head and evenly swaged therein. Where the structural components are composite thermoplastic components, the heating of the rivet head to upset same heats the adjacent composite structure in contact with the head and, upon solidification, forms a substantially integral unit.
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