Journal
POLYMER
Volume 55, Issue 20, Pages 5146-5159Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2014.08.022
Keywords
PMMA; Nanocomposites; Friction spot welding
Categories
Funding
- Landesexzellenzcluster Integrated Material Systems (LEXC) [18/09]
- Helmholtz Association through Young Investigator Group Advanced Polymer Metal Hybrid Structures (Amancio-Filho) [VH-NG-626]
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In the present study, the feasibility of Friction Spot Welding (FSpW) of a commercial-grade poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) (PMMA GS) and PMMA 6N/functionalized silica (SiO2) nanocomposites was investigated. The silica nanoparticles were functionalized via atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) with PMMA chains to achieve a uniform dispersion in the polymer matrix. The successful functionalization of silica nanoparticles with PMMA chains via ATRP was evaluated by ATR-FT-IR and TGA measurements. Rheological investigations of the silica nanocomposites showed a plateau of the storage modulus G' at low frequencies (0.01-0.03 rad/s) as a result of elastic particle-particle interactions. Overlap friction spot welds consisting of PMMA GS and a 2 wt% SiO2-g-PMMA nanocomposite were successfully prepared and compared to spot joints of PMMA GS welded with PMMA 6N and PMMA 6N/silica nanocomposite with 2 wt% unfunctionalized silica nanoparticles. Raman mappings of selected areas of cross-sectional plastographic specimens revealed an increased mixing behavior between the two polymer plates in the case of PMMA GS/2 wt% SiO2-g-PMMA joints. Although the joints welded with PMMA 6N/silica nanocomposites showed a reduction of 22% in lap shear strength and 21% displacement at peak load compared with the neat PMMA spot welds, they can compete with other state-of-the-art PMMA welding techniques such as thermal bonding and ultrasonic welding, which indicates the potential of friction spot welding as an alternative fabrication technology for joining future nanocomposite engineering parts. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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