Abstract
As a trend of lightening automobiles and electronic products, several studies are currently underway to replace parts of metals with resins. In particular, heterojunctions between metals and resins are now under the spotlight. This study aims to evaluate the variation in bonding strength with process conditions when the polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) polymer is bonded to a specimen of the lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy (AL6061). Conditions of the bonding surface of the AL6061 specimen, the temperature of the injection mold, and the content of the glass fiber were considered to be process variables. Bonded specimens were manufactured for different values of these variables. Bonding strength tests were then performed on these specimens and variations were analyzed in their characteristics corresponding to those of the process conditions. Fractures in these specimens were assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to assess the fracture surface. This was then used to analyze the fracture shape and determine whether anodizing the specimen led to the development of cracks on the joint surface. Results of the above test indicated that while the surface condition of the specimen and the temperature of the injection mold significantly influenced the strength of bonding, the content of the glass fiber did not.