METHOD FOR PRODUCING A STRUCTURAL COMPONENT FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method for producing a structural component for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle body component, which has a main body made of a metal material. The main body is provided at least partially with a reinforcing element made of a fiber-composite plastic. The method includes the steps of providing the main body, providing the reinforcing element, joining the main body and the reinforcing element together, and simultaneously heating the main body and the reinforcing element to a temperature and for a period of time which are chosen to be sufficiently high in order to harden both the metal material of the main body and also the fiber-composite plastic of the reinforcing element.

Claims

1. A method for producing a structural component for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle body component, which has a main body made of a metal material which is provided at least partially with at least one reinforcing element made of a fiber-composite plastic, said method comprising: providing the main body; providing the reinforcing element; joining the main body and the reinforcing element together; and simultaneously heating the main body and the reinforcing element to a temperature and for a period of time which are chosen to be sufficiently high in order to harden both the metal material of the main body and also the fiber-composite plastic of the reinforcing element.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the main body comprises shaping the main body into a desired shape.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing the reinforcing element comprises preimpregnation of reinforcing fibers with a thermosetting polymer matrix.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of joining together comprises pressing of the main body and the reinforcing element together, such that, after the pressing together, at least certain portions of the reinforcing element have a shaping which corresponds to the main body.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of joining together comprises the at least temporary, positionally securing the reinforcing element on the main body.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein before the main body and the reinforcing element are joined together, an adhesive is applied to the reinforcing element in order to form an integral bond between the main body and the reinforcing element after the main body and the reinforcing element have been joined together and before the main body and the reinforcing element are hardened together.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the positionally securing is accomplished by at least one a form-fitting and a force-fitting element.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the at least one a form-fitting and a force-fitting element define a shape of a clip.

9. The method according to claim 5, wherein the positionally securing is accomplished by at least one a form-fitting and a force-fitting element and an adhesive.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the main body is aluminum, and the reinforcing element is a fiber-reinforced thermosetting composite.

11. A part manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

12. A motor vehicle having at least one part manufactured according to the method of claim 1.

13. A method for producing a structural component for a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle body component, which has a main body made of a metal material which is provided at least partially with at least one reinforcing element made of a fiber-composite plastic, said method comprising: providing the main body; providing the reinforcing element; joining the main body and the reinforcing element together and positionally securing the reinforcing element on the main body by at least one a form-fitting and a force-fitting element; and simultaneously heating the main body and the reinforcing element to a temperature and for a period of time which are chosen to be sufficiently high in order to harden both the metal material of the main body and also the fiber-composite plastic of the reinforcing element.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of providing the reinforcing element comprises preimpregnation of reinforcing fibers with a thermosetting polymer matrix.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the step of joining together comprises pressing of the main body and the reinforcing element together, such that, after the pressing together, at least certain portions of the reinforcing element have a shaping which corresponds to the main body.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein before the main body and the reinforcing element are joined together, an adhesive is applied to the reinforcing element in order to form an integral bond between the main body and the reinforcing element after the main body and the reinforcing element have been joined together and before the main body and the reinforcing element are hardened together.

17. The method according to claim 13, wherein the main body is aluminum, and the reinforcing element is a fiber-reinforced thermosetting composite.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the at least one a form-fitting and a force-fitting element define a shape of a clip.

19. A part manufactured according to the method of claim 13.

20. A motor vehicle having at least one part manufactured according to the method of claim 13.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0023] In order that the disclosure may be well understood, there will now be described various forms thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0024] FIG. 1 is includes plurality of perspective views of a process for joining a main body made of a metal material together with a reinforcing element made of a fiber-composite plastic, in order to obtain a first exemplary form of a structural component according to the present disclosure; and

[0025] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second form of a structural component according to the present disclosure with form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements constructed according to the teachings of the present disclosure.

[0026] The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0027] The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. It should be understood that throughout the drawings, corresponding reference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

[0028] In the different figures, parts of equivalent function are always provided with the same reference signs, and so said parts are generally also described only once.

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first exemplary form of a structural component 1 according to the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a sequence of a plurality of perspective views A to H of a process for joining a main body 2 made of a metal material together with a reinforcing element 3 made of a fiber-composite plastic (FRP), in order to obtain the structural component 1 according to the present disclosure.

[0030] In view A in FIG. 1, the preshaped metallic main body 2 and the unshaped reinforcing element 3, which has a multiplicity of fibers embedded in a thermosetting polymer matrix, are each provided. In the subsequent views B to H, the main body 2 and the reinforcing element 3 are joined together or pressed together in such a manner that, after the pressing together, the reinforcing element 3 has a shaping which corresponds to the main body 2, as is shown in view H.

[0031] After the joining together, the structural component 1 shown in view H is heated such that the main body 2 and the reinforcing element 3 are simultaneously heated to a temperature and for a period of time which are chosen to be sufficiently high in order to harden both the metal material of the main body 2 and also the fiber-composite plastic of the reinforcing element 3. By way of example, the heat treatment of the structural component 1, for example in an autoclave or a furnace, can encompass a temperature of approximately 200° C. After the reinforcing element 3 has been hardened, it is connected to the main body 2. Ideally, a form-fitting and/or integral bond is formed. In this case, the matrix or the resin serves as it were as an adhesive between the main body 2 and the reinforcing element 3.

[0032] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a second exemplary form of a structural component 4 according to the present disclosure. In the case of the structural component 4 which is shown, a reinforcing element 5, after it has been joined together with the metallic main body 2, has been temporarily connected in a form-fitting and/or force-fitting manner to the main body 2, i.e. fastened thereon in a positionally secure manner, with the aid of a plurality of form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 6, shown here in the form of clip-like elements 6, in order to inhibit the reinforcing element 5 and the main body 2 from being able to be displaced in relation to one another after they have been joined together and before the simultaneous heating. After the reinforcing element 5 has been hardened, it is connected to the main body 2 in a form-fitting and/or integral manner.

[0033] As an alternative or in addition to the form-fitting and/or force-fitting elements 6, the reinforcing element 5 can also be fastened on the main body 2 in a positionally secure manner with the aid of an adhesive during the joining together. To this end, before the main body 2 and the reinforcing element 5 are joined together, an adhesive may be applied to the latter. The main body 2 and the reinforcing element 5 are also already integrally connected to one another by the adhesive before the joint hardening.

[0034] The above-described method according to the present disclosure is not restricted to the variations disclosed herein, but rather also encompasses other variations which have an identical effect.

[0035] In one form, the structural component 1 produced by the method according to the present disclosure is used as a body component, for example as a motor vehicle B pillar, in a motor vehicle.

[0036] The description of the disclosure is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the substance of the disclosure are intended to be within the scope of the disclosure. For example, thermoplastic resins/plastics may be employed (at higher bonding temperatures), which would be compatible with temperatures of the metallic main body. Further a plurality of main bodies and reinforcing elements may be employed in a variety of applications, which are not limited to a motor vehicle, while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the disclosure.