by Thomas Fischer, head of application development, Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik GmbH & Co. KG; Eric Brückner, Institute of Conveyor Technology and Plastics (IFK); Dr. Michael Gehde, head chair for plastics, IFK
A novel version of ultrasonic staking for joining plastics and dissimilar materials utilizes a tubular rivet that it shapes into a form-fitting bead. This new process, termed ultrasonic compressive staking, is characterized by short joining times and high breaking tension.
The increasingly common substitution for classic metal applications by plastics has resulted in the increased use of hybrid material constructions (e.g. metal-plastic, thermoplastic-thermoset or incompatible thermoplastics) and multi-component systems. These fields of application entail constantly toughening product requirements in terms of mechanical and optical properties and, therefore, require new processing strategies that enable high bonding strength together with short cycle times.
Staking processes have become established as methods for joining components made from thermoplastics with components made from dissimilar materials where coalesced joints cannot be achieved by welding. During the staking process, the protruding head or dome of the stud is warmed, plasticized and shaped by applying pressure to it, so a form-fitting bond is created between the joined parts.
Traditional staking methods have not always been successful in obtaining the strength and functionality for certain applications (Fig. 1). When the proper strength has been achieved, the length of the joining time becomes a problem.
A new approach – ultrasonic compressive staking
A new process has recently been developed for ultrasonic compressive staking for plastics parts. This process replaces the classic process of shaping the stud. Instead, it utilizes a semi-tubular stud with a bore whose diameter varies with the stud diameter, the material and the thickness of the part to be staked.
In the first processing step, the tubular stud is plasticized internally by ultrasound from a suitably fitting sonotrode tip, thereby creating a melt cushion. In a second step, the partially warmed stud is compressed by the sonotrode shoulder. The stud bead thus created forms a high-quality form-fit bond (Fig. 2). Depending on the material involved, compressing can be performed with or without applying ultrasound.
Sophisticated plastics in tests with multifarious parameters
The investigations primarily focused on PA66-GF30 (manufacturer: BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany), a construction material used industrially for numerous different applications. The low melt viscosity and high melting temperature make severe demands on the staking process. Additional investigations were positively undertaken using the materials ABS-PC, POM, PBT-GF30, PC-GF20 and PMMA in order to attest the applicability of the process to a wide range of applications.
The investigations were performed on a Hermann Ultraschall HiQ DIALOG SpeedControl 1200 ultrasonic welding machine (system frequency 35 kHz). The machine has a digital ultrasound generator for variable amplitude control, and the HMC pneumatic drive concept provides precise joining force control, thus combining the advantages of pneumatics with the dynamics of an electric drive. Consequently, the machine is characterized by precise recording and evaluation of relevant process parameters, such as amplitude, joining path and joining force curve.
New geometries of the staking stud and sonotrode
The experimental investigations were based on a specimen for which variable tubular geometries could be created during injection molding with interchangeable insets in the mold. A rivet with a 3mm defined outer diameter and variable internal geometry sits on a base body measuring 60x60x4mm³. Geometry 1 is a partially hollow stud whose bore ends just above the joining partner (Fig. 3). Geometry 2 has a stepped bore that narrows down to the rivet bottom (Fig. 3). The joining partner used was a 3mm thick steel u-shaped profile with an edge length of 30mm. As schematically shown in Figure 3, the sonotrodes are equipped with a spike on the bottom that is designed and configured to fit into the bore in the tubular rivet.
Optical and mechanical assessment of staking quality
The performed analyses focused on determining the particular fracture force in tensile tests at a testing speed of 5mm/min. Microsections were used to assess the external and internal formation of the stud bead via macroscopy and microscopy.
The investigations showed that the join quality depends strongly on the design of the tubular stud. Both geometries achieved maximum fracture strength of approximately 460N. Differences showed in the micro- and macroscopic properties of the rivet bead and in the processing window. The fracture strength of geometry 1 determined in the uniaxial tensile test indicated dependence on joining force during parameter optimization. Loss of fracture strength was recorded with rising joining force at constant amplitude. This behavior was exhibited across the entire available amplitude window.
As amplitude and joining force rose, the joining time required to create a bond fell due to the higher specific energy input.
During parameter optimization, geometry 1 often exhibited material budding from the bead (Fig. 4, left), with negative effect on optic properties and resulting in lower strength. The melt pressure developing within the tubular rivet due to material displacement by the sonotrode tip has a critical effect that leads to budding, especially when low viscosity materials, such as PA66, are used. Due to the higher viscosity of the base material, reshaping can proceed without budding only when low amplitudes and high joining forces (e.g. amplitude 10µm, joining force 600N) are used. The higher percentage of cold reshaping, however, can cause microcracking in the compressed bead. In addition, the resulting joining times rise sharply under these parametric combinations.
Further optimization of the tubular stud was achieved by a staggered bore inside the stud, which created additional volume for the material displaced by the sonotrode tip, thereby preventing budding from the bead (Fig. 4, right).
Since the load-bearing cross-section of the tubular stud remains unchanged, the new internal shape has no negative influence on the achievable fracture strengths. The new geometry 2 enabled optically perfect bead shaping within a larger processing window. For PA66-GF30, the optimum was reached at an amplitude of 20µm, a joining force of 300N, as well as 460N achieved fracture force. The joining time required lay within a very economical range at 1.5s.
Comparison with other staking processes
The results show that the ultrasonic compressive staking method can fulfill high technological and economical requirements.
Figure 5 shows the maximum fracture strain achieved with ultrasonic compressing compared to that of three thermal staking methods (hot forming, hot stamp staking, hot air staking), as well as classic ultrasonic melt staking. Two DVS-standard solid stud geometries with various size heads, one DVS-standard tubular stud geometry, and the newly developed tubular geometry developed for ultrasonic compressive staking were considered.
When assessed for mechanical properties, the geometry of the new ultrasonic compressive staking process has to be considered as a tubular stud. The process achieves a maximum strength of 87 ± 3MPa. To be sure, this lies below the strength achieved for long DVS solid rivet geometries under hot forming. However, when compared directly as applied, it lies clearly above the strength of the DVS tubular stud geometry achieved by hot stamp staking with a maximum of only 63 ± 5MPa.
Advantages and limits
Ultrasonic compressive staking exhibits clear advantages in point of joining time when compared with thermal staking methods. In the case at hand, this amounts to 1.6s, whereby an additional process holding time of one second has to be considered. Thermal staking methods typically require clearly longer joining times, 10s to 20s, without even taking into consideration the required stamp warm-up time and the recommended cooling cycles.
The design limits of the new process currently lie in the minimum stud diameter of 3mm. Plastification in the center of the tubular stud requires sufficient material volume and/or adequate diameter. Reduction of the remaining supernatant above the rivet bead is the object of current investigations. At the moment, this remains a disadvantage compared with classic DVS rivet geometries that exhibit lower fracture forces, on the one hand, but also require less space.
Conclusion
Ultrasonic compressive staking is relevant for a wide range of materials and enables bonding between new types of sophisticated materials combinations. The know-how here lies in rivet and sonotrode design, whereby the stud has a tubular shape and is characterized by a variable bore depth varying with and adapted to the application. Budding can be eliminated via the bore depth. The finely adjustable parameterization inherent in ultrasound enables targeted energy input as well as adaptation to part tolerances, such as can occur with multiple studs. With this innovative shape of workpiece and tool, the ultrasonic input is almost entirely uncoupled, thereby sparing sensitive parts. In addition to high strengths, the joining times of maximum three seconds for the staking process, including holding time, lie clearly below the double-digit seconds required by other thermal staking methods. Practical opportunities for using the new method could include staking PCBs or boards, magnets, sheet materials, etc.
Acknowledgments
Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik would like to thank the Forschungsnetzwerk Mittelstand AiF (ZIM) for their support and friendly assistance with the basic project.
Herrmann Ultraschalltechnik explores pioneering solutions for ultrasonic welding, sealing and bonding of thermoplastic parts and materials. The company develops, produces and sells premium ultrasonic systems and components.
Glossary
The following are translations of the German terms from the figures used in this article:
Mikroskopie = microscopy
Makroskopie = macroscopy
Tragende Kopfhöhe = load-bearing head height
Warmumformen = hot forming
Nietgeometrie = stud geometry
Bruchspannung = fracture strain
Heizstempelnieten = hot stamp staking
Heißluftnieten = hot air staking
Ultraschall-Schmelznieten = ultrasonic melt staking
Ultraschall-Stauchnieten = ultrasonic compressive staking
DVS-lang Vollniet Form B = DVS short solid stud, shape B
DVS-kurz Vollniet Form A = DVS short solid stud, shape A
DVS-hohl Hohlniet Form G = DVA full-tubular stud, shape G
Bezieht sich auf die abweichende Hohlnietgeometrie beim Ultraschall-Stauchnieten = Based on the divergent tubular stud geometry in ultrasonic compressive staking
