Joining of composites using rapid curing resin systems

In the past decades, a revolution in the world of materials has been taking place to address the global demand of consumers and environmental organizations for more energy-efficient engineering structures. Design engineers, particularly in the automotive and aerospace industry, have responded to this shift by using lightweight-high-performance materials. Composite materials such as fiber-reinforced polymers, due to their higher specific strength and stiffness are currently the preferred choice of structure and design scientists for high-performance-lightweight engineering structures. In general, it is not common to produce a complex or high-performance engineering structure in one piece. For a multicomponent structure joining and assembling of the components and structural elements is essential. The conventional joining techniques such as welding, screwing, and riveting are not suitable to join composite materials as the laminar continuity is compromised. The recent advancements in adhesive materials and the introduction of curing technologies such as microwave irradiation, UV and induction heating have the efficient joining of composite materials possible. The rapid curing resin systems has advanced the technology of reinforced polymeric composites integration into metallic structures for improved efficiency and cost which was limited by the conventional slow processing adhesive systems.