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12/18/2015 10:39

Pioneering joining technology for high performance hybrid automotive parts

Petra Nolis M.A. Marketing & Kommunikation
Fraunhofer-Institut für Lasertechnik ILT

    Flexible production cell for Hybrid Joining – FlexHyJoin

    Aim of the international project FlexHyJoin, funded by the European Union’s program for research and innovation “Horizon 2020”, is the novel development of a fully automatized joining process for the automotive industry. Its objective is to enable rapid manufacturing of hybrid metal/thermoplastic-based fiber reinforced polymer composite (TP-FRPC) parts.

    Hybrid components play an essential role in vehicle weight reduction and facilitate the materials’ full potential exploitation. Particularly metal/TP-FRPC multimaterials are very promising for this purpose, as TP-FRPC materials offer high specific mechanical properties and excellent chemical/corrosion resistance. However, a satisfying joining method for metal and TP-FRPC parts does not exist until now, ensuring a high mechanical bonding performance without employing additional material and simultaneously possessing an adequate level of automation. Precisely this approach represents the project’s core: Both induction joining and laser joining are combined in a fully automatized production cell. These two indicatory technologies perfectly complement each other concerning their particular fields of application. Implementing innovative surface textures enables gapless form closure and improved adhesion in automotive components without requiring any additional material, such as adhesives. By combining the surface treatment with the complementary induction joining and laser joining, as well as integrating the complete equipment with an on-line process control, a very high degree of automation and significant reduction in the manufacturing-critical cycle time can be achieved. Thus, FlexHyJoin will support the industry-wide usage of metal/TP-FRPC hybrid components in automotive mass production. The project was launched in October 2015 with a successful kick-off meeting in Brussels. Until December 2018, ten contributing partners from five countries are cooperating within the FlexHyJoin consortium.

    CRF Centro Ricerche FIAT S.c.p.A., Italy
    EDAG Engineering GmbH, Germany
    FILL Gesellschaft m.b.H., Austria
    Fraunhofer ILT, Germany
    Fundación Tecnalia Research & Innovation, Spain
    HBW-Gubesch Thermoforming GmbH, Germany
    Institut fuer Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH (Project Coordinator), Germany
    KGR S.p.A., Italy
    Leister Technologies AG, Switzerland
    New Infrared Technologies S.L., Spain

    This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement no. 677625.

    Contact information:

    Dr.-Ing. Birgit Bittmann
    E-Mail: birgit.bittmann@ivw.uni-kl.de
    Phone: +49 631 2017 427

    Nora Feiden
    E-Mail: nora.feiden@ivw.uni-kl.de
    Phone: +49 631 2017 249

    Christoph Engelmann
    E-Mail: christoph.engelmann@ilt.fraunhofer.de
    Phone: +49 241 8906-217


    More information:

    http://www.ivw.uni-kl.de
    http://www.ilt.fraunhofer.de


    Images

    Consortium of the FlexHyJoin Project
    Consortium of the FlexHyJoin Project
    Source: Institute for Composite Materials (IVW)

    Laser-based joints of steel (1.4301) with different thermoplastic composites (CFRP, GFRP)
    Laser-based joints of steel (1.4301) with different thermoplastic composites (CFRP, GFRP)
    Source: Institute for Composite Materials (IVW)


    Criteria of this press release:
    Journalists
    Materials sciences, Mechanical engineering, Physics / astronomy
    transregional, national
    Cooperation agreements, Research projects
    English


     

    Consortium of the FlexHyJoin Project


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    Laser-based joints of steel (1.4301) with different thermoplastic composites (CFRP, GFRP)


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