Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy
This study investigates hybrid laser–plasma surface modification strategies for metal–CFRTP (carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer) dissimilar joints to improve their bonding performance, in contrast to existing literature that mostly focuses on either plasma or laser treatment alone. By con...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Materials & Design |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009219 |
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| author | Brodey Z. Lu Yao Qiao Ethan K. Nickerson Yongsoon Shin Gabrielle M. Schuler Nate L. Brown Nathan L. Canfield Kevin L. Simmons |
| author_facet | Brodey Z. Lu Yao Qiao Ethan K. Nickerson Yongsoon Shin Gabrielle M. Schuler Nate L. Brown Nathan L. Canfield Kevin L. Simmons |
| author_sort | Brodey Z. Lu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study investigates hybrid laser–plasma surface modification strategies for metal–CFRTP (carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer) dissimilar joints to improve their bonding performance, in contrast to existing literature that mostly focuses on either plasma or laser treatment alone. By conducting double cantilever beam (DCB) tests on adhesively-bonded AA5052 and CFRPA66 (carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide 66) joints, as an example of metal–CFRTP joints, it was found that laser engraving on the metal surface combined with plasma treatment on the CFRTP surface significantly improved the specific fracture energy of the joint by 187% and 31% compared to as-received and plasma-treated-only joints, respectively. However, the hybrid treatment of laser engraving and plasma on the investigated CFRTP surface did not improve the bonding performance of the joints. The underlying mechanisms related to hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategies were further investigated by examining the surface and cross-sectional morphologies after DCB testing using microscopy. Computational modeling was performed to elucidate the interaction between grooves on the metal substrate and the CFRTP–adhesive interfacial bonding in metal–CFRTP joints. This study provides new insights into developing surface modification methods for achieving strong metal–CFRTP adhesive joints, aimed at lightweighting structural components in automotive, aerospace, and other applications. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34d8914873ea418bb2f912bb7f0bf12c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0264-1275 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Materials & Design |
| spelling | doaj-art-34d8914873ea418bb2f912bb7f0bf12c2025-08-20T04:01:48ZengElsevierMaterials & Design0264-12752025-09-0125711450110.1016/j.matdes.2025.114501Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategyBrodey Z. Lu0Yao Qiao1Ethan K. Nickerson2Yongsoon Shin3Gabrielle M. Schuler4Nate L. Brown5Nathan L. Canfield6Kevin L. Simmons7Northwestern University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, IL, 60208, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USA; Corresponding author.Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAPacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy and Environment Directorate, Richland, WA, 99354, USAThis study investigates hybrid laser–plasma surface modification strategies for metal–CFRTP (carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymer) dissimilar joints to improve their bonding performance, in contrast to existing literature that mostly focuses on either plasma or laser treatment alone. By conducting double cantilever beam (DCB) tests on adhesively-bonded AA5052 and CFRPA66 (carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide 66) joints, as an example of metal–CFRTP joints, it was found that laser engraving on the metal surface combined with plasma treatment on the CFRTP surface significantly improved the specific fracture energy of the joint by 187% and 31% compared to as-received and plasma-treated-only joints, respectively. However, the hybrid treatment of laser engraving and plasma on the investigated CFRTP surface did not improve the bonding performance of the joints. The underlying mechanisms related to hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategies were further investigated by examining the surface and cross-sectional morphologies after DCB testing using microscopy. Computational modeling was performed to elucidate the interaction between grooves on the metal substrate and the CFRTP–adhesive interfacial bonding in metal–CFRTP joints. This study provides new insights into developing surface modification methods for achieving strong metal–CFRTP adhesive joints, aimed at lightweighting structural components in automotive, aerospace, and other applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009219Carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers (CFRTPs)PolyamideAdhesive bondingSurface laser ablation and engravingPlasma surface treatmentHybrid surface treatment |
| spellingShingle | Brodey Z. Lu Yao Qiao Ethan K. Nickerson Yongsoon Shin Gabrielle M. Schuler Nate L. Brown Nathan L. Canfield Kevin L. Simmons Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy Materials & Design Carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers (CFRTPs) Polyamide Adhesive bonding Surface laser ablation and engraving Plasma surface treatment Hybrid surface treatment |
| title | Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy |
| title_full | Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy |
| title_fullStr | Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy |
| title_short | Improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser-plasma surface modification strategy |
| title_sort | improving adhesive bonding of short carbon fiber thermoplastic composites to aluminum alloys with a hybrid laser plasma surface modification strategy |
| topic | Carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic polymers (CFRTPs) Polyamide Adhesive bonding Surface laser ablation and engraving Plasma surface treatment Hybrid surface treatment |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127525009219 |
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