Joining of Double Pre-Holed Aluminum Alloy AA6061-T6 to Polyamide PA using Hot Press Technique

Abstract

Abstract The objective of this work is using a hot press technique to join a hybrid structure of aluminum alloy AA6061-T6 sheet of 1mm thickness together with polyamide PA sheet of 2mm thickness. The aluminum alloy specimen was pre-holed with two holes of 5mm diameter. The joining process was carried out with a lap joint configuration. Three different process parameters of the joining process were used: temperature (164, 172 and180°C), pressure (4, 7 and 10 bar) and time (1, 2.5 and 4 min.). The joints were tested by a shear test, macrostructure and scanning electron microscope (SEM) inspection. The design of the experiments (DOE) method was used to analysis the effect of the process parameters on the joint shear force. The DOE optimized the shear force of the joint with a maximum value of 1565 N at 177.5°C 4bar and 3.5min. The SEM examination indicated that the joining mechanism occurred by re-solidified the PA through the internal surface of the aluminum hole.