A multi-material assembly is provided, as well as methods of making a multi-material assembly. The multi-material assembly includes a first coated structural component and a second structural component. The first coated structural component includes a first uncoated portion, and an adhesive is positioned between the second structural component and the first uncoated portion that secures the first coated structural component to the second structural component.

Extruded molds and methods for manufacturing composite structures using the extruded molds are disclosed. The molds may include recessed or raised longitudinal features to impart a corresponding shape to the molded composite structures. The composite structures may be panels used to construct cargo vehicles, for example.

The invention relates to a method for producing a material composite composed of metal and plastic to form a plastic-metal hybrid component, in which method, to improve the adhesion of the metal surface and at least one plastic component, stochastically random macroscopic and/or microscopic undercuts are made by means of short-pulse laser radiation in the metal surface in order to roughen it, these undercuts each being filled at least partially with the at least one plastic component in an injection moulding process such that said plastic component engages into the macroscopic and/or microscopic undercuts, wherein, following the roughening of the metal surface and before and/or during the injection moulding process for the at least one plastic component, at least the roughened surface of the metal is heated to a temperature which, during processing, lies in the range of room temperature up to 100 C. above the processing temperature of the plastic.

An assembly method between a part made of metal material and a part made of organic matrix composite material, said method having a step of providing two parts, each including a surface to be welded, and the surface to be welded of said composite part is made up, at least partially, of an exposed portion of at least one metal insert which is partially embedded in said composite part; positioning said surfaces to be welded opposite and separated from each other; and projecting, at high speed, the surface to be welded of the metal part or the exposed portion of the metal insert, onto one another, to obtain high-speed clamping to one another and to obtain a weld between the exposed portion of the metal insert of the composite part and the complementary portion of the surface to be welded.

An apparatus, according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a clip body having a vehicle side and a panel side. A first clip is on the vehicle side and a second clip is on the panel side. A seal is on the vehicle side. A method according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, attaching the first clip to a vehicle body, and subsequently attaching a panel to the second clip such that the seal is positioned between the clip body and the vehicle body.

A structural assembly (900) and method of fabricating the same, the method comprising: providing a first member (204) comprising a bond surface (800) and a plurality of protrusions (802) extending from the bond surface (800), a length of each of the protrusions (802) from the bond surface (800) being less than or equal to 2 mm; providing a second member (202) comprising a fibre-reinforced composite material, the fibre-reinforced composite material comprising a plurality of elongate fibres (902) embedded in a polymer matrix (904); while the polymer matrix (904) is in its plastic state, forcing the second member (202) against the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802) so as to cause the second member (202) to form onto the bond surface (800) and the protrusions (802); and thereafter causing the polymer matrix (904) to harden, thereby fixing the first member (204) to the bond surface of the second member (202).

A disclosed component for a motor vehicle includes a component main body, with at least one reinforcing element integrated in a component matrix of the component main body. At least one reinforcing element may be fastened to the component main body. A disclosed component for a motor vehicle has a high component stability, is able to be manufactured with relatively low production costs and enables integration of functional components. The component includes the reinforcing element as a band with a plastics matrix and embedded unidirectionally oriented continuous fibers. A method for manufacturing such a component is also disclosed.

A welded joint between at least one metal material element and at least one thermoplastic material element is obtained by pressing the elements against each other while applying heat. Contact surfaces of the metal material, which are in contact with the thermoplastic material, are provided with uneven surface portions having a distribution of asperities. With heat applied, the thermoplastic material fills spaces between these asperities and maintains this configuration after subsequent cooling, thereby improving strength of the joint. The uneven surface portions are obtained in a preliminary forming step of the metal material in a press mold, which is configured with a forming surface for generating the uneven surface portions by mechanical deformation and/or with a device for guiding a laser or electron beam. By this technique, hybrid components are obtained made of one or more elements of metal material between which a shaped component of thermoplastic material is interposed.

Composite fasteners, associated blanks and also methods and apparatus for the installation of such fasteners are disclosed. An exemplary composite rivet (10) disclosed comprises an elongated body including braided reinforcement fibers (14) embedded inside the body and supported in a matrix material (16). Also disclosed are structural assemblies comprising composite fasteners and panels or other parts comprising composite and/or other materials.

A method for manufacturing a sandwich panel for a vehicle includes: etching a sheet, which etches one surface of a metal sheet; pressing the sheet, which forms a pattern of a specific shape on the one surface of the metal sheet; laminating a pair of the metal sheets; and performing injection-molding by injecting a plastic resin into the laminated pair of the metal sheets. The method may improve the bonding performance of the sandwich panel, thereby improving the degree of freedom of shape due to the press-molding.