Resistance welding of thermoplastic composites - an overview

This paper presents an extensive overview of resistance welding of thermoplastic composites. The objective is to provide a deeper insight into the nature of the resistance welding process and a summary of the vast experimental investigative effort put into it over the years. The main focus is set on the parameters that govern the welding process and the principal phenomena that affect the quality of the joint. The standard experimental procedure, the experimental set-up and the main evaluation methods are also looked at in detail. Finally, several alternative resistance welding methods that involve non-thermoplastic materials and offer possibilities for future applications are briefly reviewed. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.