Lap joint welding of dissimilar materials
Keywords
- Optimised structural design
- High-strength joints
- Weight saving
Technology Market
Welding of dissimilar materials is the key technology to improve productivity and quality in different fields including:
- Transportation: reduction of vehicle weight, and hence gas emissions, by joining light alloys with high strength joints (e.g. aluminium alloys to steel)
- Energy production: joining steels difficult to weld
The welding technology proposed by the UCL meets the market demand for joining with high-strength joints dissimilar materials that are traditionally difficult to weld.
The UCL invention
UCL has patented (developed) a friction based welding process that ensures obtaining a high-strength joint between dissimilar materials, even for dissimilar materials that are traditionally difficult to join (such as steel and aluminium). This high-strength joint avoids premature cracking. The production rate can reach a weld of 1 meter long produced in less than 2 minutes.
Technology Status
This work is the subject of two patent applications:
VAN DER REST C., SIMAR A., JACQUES P.J. , Method for welding at least two layers; EP12166124.3, april 2012, and PCT/EP2013/058844, april 2013.
(internal file number : UCL-045)
Interesed to develop and / or commercialise this technology ?
Please contact :
UCL - LTTO
Tel. +32 (0)10 47 25 47
ltto@uclouvain.be