EXPERIMENTAL CHARACTERIZATION OF PROCESSING-PERFORMANCE RELATIONSHIPS OF RESISTANCE WELDED GRAPHITE POLYETHERETHERKETONE COMPOSITE JOINTS

A study to investigate fusion bonding (welding) of AS4 graphite/polyetheretherketone (PEEK) thermoplastic composites is presented. Processing studies are conducted for resistance welding preconsolidated AS4/PEEK laminates in both unidirectional and quasi-isotropic configurations using PEEK and polyetherimide (PEI) film at the joint interface. All bonding was done under a constant displacement process. The influence of processing time, initially applied consolidation pressure, and the rate of heat generation on weld performance is examined through lap shear and Mode I interlaminar fracture toughness testing. A rapid increase in strength with processing time that asymptotically approaches the compression molded baseline is measured. Weld times for quasi-isotropic lap shear coupons are significantly shorter than those with a unidirectional lay-up. Variation of the initially applied consolidation pressure is shown to have little influence on the lap shear strength of PEEK film welded lap joints. A discussion of the mechanisms allowing void formation during the welding process is given. Bond strength test results are correlated with ultrasonic C-scans of the weld regions.