Refill Friction Stir Welding of Dissimilar Materials
Overview
This is a cost-effective, high quality and reliable in-house vehicle components welding technology for joining dissimilar lightweight materials sheets of Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP), aluminium, steel and plastics.
Commercialisation opportunities
License of RFSSW forming technology
Problem addressed
Conventional stir spot welding processes (such as electric resistance welding) cannot join aluminum and steel together, nor provide reliable fatigue resistance. The aluminum-steel joints produced by conventional technology cannot meet the design requirements of automobile, high-speed train and aircraft manufacturing industries.
Innovation
- Use the combination of stirring pin and sleeve to form a solder joint without a keyhole.
- Solder joints have higher strength and fatigue resistance and anti-corrosion properties, resulting in a longer lifespan.
Key impact
- Improve vehicle safety with more reliable joint of higher strength.
- Enhance profitability of manufacturers with high performance Refill Friction Stir Spot Welding (RFSSW) machine.
- No air, water or solid pollutants produced during the fabrication process.
Application
- Applicable for joining dissimilar materials, such as steel and aluminum, aluminum and plastic, aluminum and CFRP, etc
Patent
- Hong Kong Short Term Patent: HK32020020091.5
- China Utility Patent: ZL 2020 2 2644082.7
Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC)
The Hong Kong Productivity Council (HKPC) is a multi-disciplinary organisation established by statute in 1967, to promote productivity excellence through integrated advanced technologies and innovative service offerings to support Hong Kong enterprises. HKPC is the champion and expert in facilitating Hong Kong's new industrialisation empowered by i4.0 and e4.0 - focusing on R&D, IoT, big data analytics, AI and Robotic technology development, digital manufacturing, etc., to help enterprises and industries upgrade their business performance, lower operating costs, increase productivity and enhance competitiveness.
The Council is a trusted partner with comprehensive innovative solutions for Hong Kong industries and enterprises, enabling them to achieve resources and productivity utilisation, effectiveness and cost reduction, and enhanced competitiveness in both local and international marketplace. It offers SMEs and startups immediate and timely assistance in coping with the ever-changing business environment, accompanying them on their innovation and transformation journey.
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