Experimental Study of Laser Direct Joining of Metal and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon

This paper presents an experimental study to evaluate the feasibility, characteristics and mechanism of laser direct joining between metal and carbon fiber reinforced plastic (PA66CF20). This study presents a method to improve the joint strength of the metal-polymer hybrid joint. The investigation study effects of process parameters (laser power and travelling speed) on the quality of joining joint. Macroscopic morphology of joint and PA66CF20 melting region closed to the interface were observed in this study. XPS analysis shows that Ti-C and Ti-O chemical bonding were produced between titanium alloy and plastic. Cross-sectional photo showed the melted polymer flowed into micro-cavity of metal surface caused by roughness of metal and thus formed mechanical bonding. Finally, the titanium alloy surface was structured in four different surface textures using a pulsed laser. Then the metal was joined with the plastic. The result shows that the joint strength of metal after laser-structured joining with plastic had been improved greatly.