Inductive Pre-Bonding of Stiffened Structural Components Made of CFRP Using the Example of Co- and Secondary Bonding Processes

Abstract

This paper presents a reliable and patented concept for the effective pre-bonding of stiffened elements on high performance structural parts. In a twofold bonding process, the irradiation of the alternating magnetic field heats the adhesive layer between the CFRP components and pre-bonds them together. The main bonding of the adhesive joint takes place in an autoclave under high temperature and pressure where it completely cures. The focus of this paper is on the pre-bonding process as a result of the enormous opportunities for development. That is based on the time-consuming heating techniques that are used in the current manufacturing process. Performed experiments show that the used concept based on inductive heating can drastically reduce the required time from 20 – 25 seconds per adhesion point to 2.5 – 3 seconds with the same or better pre-bonding quality as with actual state-of-the-art techniques.