The effect of pin angle on the microstructure of resin-infused pin-reinforced metal-composite hybrid joints

Abstract

Metal-composite hybrid joints with through-thickness pins are high-performing, but a study is needed on manufacturing resin-infused composites with large pin angles. Single-pin metal-composite joints were investigated with pin angles of 0°, 20°, 45° and 80°. Microstructural characterisation revealed the pin insertion zone varied significantly with the pin angle and along the pin length. With increasing pin angle, the diamond-like resin-rich zone became triangular, asymmetric, and significantly reduced in size to effectively zero. Other asymmetric, complex and novel features were observed as well. Despite these features, the joints had suitably high quality and demonstrated the potential of resin-infused composites for high pin-angle joints.

Keywords

• Metal-composite hybrid joints
• Vacuum-assisted resin infusion
• 3D printed metal
• Through-thickness reinforcement