Abstract
Mechanical fastening, e.g. screwing or riveting, or thermal joining techniques like ultrasonic riveting or hot-air-sticking, are used to join thermoplastic composites and metallic structures. This paper compares the experimental results of ultrasonic riveting and hot-air sticking of fiber-reinforced polypropylene (PP-GM30, PP-LGF40) and polyamide6 (PA6-GF30) with steel. The influence of glass fiber volume fraction on process stability and the tensile strength of the joint are evaluated from micrographs and X-ray photographs. The influence of the thermoplastic matrix material and the glass fiber length on the wear of the sonotrode during ultrasonic riveting is investigated based on SEM-micrographs and surface roughness measurements.