Hybrid Metal-Polymer Joints

Dear Colleagues,

Multi-material hybrid structures (MMHSs) are highly demanded in several fields, including civil, transport, aerospace, and biomedical fields. In transportation industries, MMHSs are used to reduce a product's weight without affecting the structural performance, and consequently resulting in lower fuel consumption and, in the case of electric vehicles, to increase their autonomy. Furthermore, this weight reduction contributes dramatically to reducing CO₂ emissions, as well as to improving the overall performance. The main challenge when manufacturing MMHSs is represented by the adoption of the joining process between such dissimilar materials. Conventional mechanical fastening and adhesive bonding involve several issues. Thus, because of the increasing demand for MMHSs, several new joining processes have been developed in order to overcome such limitations. Fast mechanical joining processes (such as clinching as self-pierce riveting) and thermomechanical joining processes (such as laser direct joining, friction joining, and ultrasonic joining) have been developed in recent years as suitable alternatives for the production of multi-materials hybrid structures.

This Special Issue is aimed at collecting original research and literature reviews concerning conventional processes and recent developments in this field. The following topics will be highly acknowledged:

• Mechanism of bonding/joint formation;
• Process monitoring and simulation;
• Process control;
• Influence of preprocessing;
• Joining additively manufactured components;
• Mechanical characterization;
• Microstructural, chemical, and physical characterization;
• Other characterization methods;
• New characterization methods.

Prof. Dr. Francesco Lambiase
Prof. Dr. Sergio T. Amancio-Filho
Guest Editors

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