Adhesion of Steel and PMMA by Means of Laser Radiation

As the utilization of plastics is growing in our devices, their joining with other structural materials, like metals is more and more necessary. A novel method for joining polymeric materials and metals is the laser assisted metal plastic joining. The method is in focus of several researches. However, the mechanism of joint formation is not described sufficiently yet. In this study, the adhesion between structural steel and PMMA plastic and the phenomena of bubble formation is investigated. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetry and mass spectrometry (TG-MS) were used to analyze joining interfaces and changes in the plastic material. Results show good adhesion between the mentioned materials and the important role of bubbles in the evolution of joining force.