The effect of joining speed on the joining strength of the dissimilar materials joint of the SUS304/ carbon fiber reinforced thermoplastic (CFRTP) was investigated. SUS304 plates (150mm×75mm×2.0mm) and CFRTP (consisted of PA6 matrix and 20wt% carbon fiber) plates (150mm×75mm×3.0mm) were joined by friction lap joining (FLJ) using rotational WC-Co tool. Different joining speeds in the range from 1.67mm/s - 16.7mm/s and the tool rotation speed of 8.33 s-1 were selected as processing conditions. Direct joining of SUS304/CFRTP was accomplished at all of joining speeds by FLJ. The tensile shear strength of the joint increased with increasing joining speed up to 3.33mm/s, however, it decreased from the joining speed of 3.33mm/s to 16.7mm/s. The interfacial fracture occurred at all of joining speeds. The fractured surface analysis of SUS304 revealed that teared fragments from the CFRTP base plate were bonded to SUS304. At the lower joining speed, the excessive heat input caused thermal decomposition of PA6 from the matrix of CFRTP resulted bubbles; the joint strength was decreased because of these bubbles. The shortage of the heat input at the higher joining speed caused insufficient wetting of molten PA6 to SUS304, which resulted in the decreased strength of the joint.
