Influences of interface and surface pretreatment on the mechanical properties of metal-CFRP hybrid structures manufactured by resin transfer moulding

Abstract

The combination of sheet metal and carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP) is a promising approach in the sector of automotive lightweight construction. The hybrid structures allow a symbiotical usage of the specific advantages of each material. First of all, this article specifies the process chain by manufacturing hybrid materials with an intrinsic resin transfer moulding (RTM) process. Subsequently, research results regarding the interface between metal and CFRP component as well as the surface pretreatment of metallic component with laser structuring are illustrated and discussed. By means of four-point-bending tests, it is found that the mechanical properties of metal-CFRP hybrid structures are improved by using a glass fleece or an epoxy-based adhesive film as intermediate layer or due to surface pretreatment of metallic component with laser structuring. Additionally, a finite-element simulation for a four-point-bending test of a hybrid part is compared to an experiment for the linear elastic region, where strain and stress distributions are focused.