Additively manufactured components basically have the same adhesive properties as conventionally manufactured components, but often fail due to their anisotropic mechanical properties due to delamination of the individual layers. With a load perpendicular to the layer structure, the strength of the joint is therefore only dependent on the adhesion of the top layer. This means that the strength of the adhesive cannot be exploited, since delamination begins when the strength is lower.
The aim of the project is to determine application-specific interlocking features that enable maximum force transmission without component failure. The aim is to clarify the extent to which the joint zone geometry must be adapted to the type of external load. In addition, it is to be investigated how much surface pretreatment can be reduced in this way and whether foreign materials can also be joined together.
Delamination can be counteracted by a targeted design of the joining zone, since the force can be conducted into the interior of the component via the hardened adhesive and can thus be distributed over several layers. Depending on the application and load situation, this is done by constructively adapting the joining zone with the help of the interlocking features. In addition, plastics with poor adhesion properties can also be joined in this way.
