Effects of environmental conditions on the lap shear strength of resistance-welded carbon fibre/thermoplastic composite joints. (1st October 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rohart, Vincent; Lebel, Louis Laberge; Dubé, Martine
• Is Part Of: Composites. Number 198(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-10-01
• Subjects: Resistance welding -- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) -- Environmental degradation -- Fractography -- Welding/joining; Composite materials -- Periodicals; Materials science -- Periodicals; Composite materials; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 620.118
• DOI: 10.1016/j.compositesb.2020.108239
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-8368

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study is to understand the influence of temperature and moisture on the lap shear strength (LSS) of carbon fibre/polyphenylene sulfide (CF/PPS) resistance-welded joints. The welded joints are conditioned at various levels of temperature and humidity and tested at temperatures ranging from 21 °C to 150 °C. Temperature is shown to have an effect on the LSS with a reduction of 26% at 82 °C and 61% at 150 °C (around 60 °C above the PPS Tg ), relative to room temperature. Moisture is shown to have little to no impact on the LSS, due to the semi-crystalline nature of PPS and its good resistance to water absorption. Observation of the joints' fracture surfaces shows a degradation of the fibre/matrix interface under severe environmental conditions and a failure mode involving both fibre/matrix and heating element/matrix debonding.