Effects of Dimension of Joining Part on Welding Behavior of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Thermoplastics using Spread and Woven Carbon Fiber Resistance Heating Element

Abstract

This study aims to stabilize the resistance welding of carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) using spread or woven carbon fiber heating element. The joined CFRTP parts was sateen weave CF/PPS laminates, and the material used for the resistance heating element was spread carbon fiber and plain weave carbon fiber. The effects of processing conditions such as aspect ratio of fusion joining part, applied current, conduction time, and also material conditions such as resistance heating element were investigated experimentally. The contents of evaluation were temperature distribution of resistance heating element by using a thermography, welding area ratio measured by image analysis and monitoring of electricity. From the experimental results, in the case of width size change, it was suitable for resistance welding of large area. On the other hand, in the case of length size change, it was not suitable for resistance welding because the edge effect occurred around the electrode. Subsequently, in the case of using the spread carbon fiber as resistance heating element, it was found that the thermal distribution was unevenness because of uneven distribution of carbon fibers.