Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Douglas L Faulkner

Mark William Verbrugge

Hamid Ghavami Kia

Xiaohong Gayden

Yen-Lung Chen

Peter M Parlow

John D Fickes

Peter H Foss

Laminated metallic sheets which comprise an interior layer of a viscoelastic polymeric compound sandwiched between outer layers of metallic sheet may exhibit enhanced properties through modification of the viscoelastic phase. In a first embodiment the elastic modulus of the viscoelastic polymeric compound may be reduced by incorporating voids, bubbles or pores within the compound. These voids which may be introduced by introduction of polymeric microspheres are effective in reducing the internal stresses induced in the laminate by temperature changes. In a second embodiment, coating the microspheres with an electrically-conductive layer may be effective in enabling resistance spot welding of such laminated materials.

Laminated steel with compliant viscoelastic core

In an assembly of facing metal sheets separated by a polymer layer, welded metallurgical bonds are formed between the metal sheets by use of a friction stir weld tool. A rotating tool penetrates the first sheet, locally displaces the encountered portion of polymer film and penetrates into the second sheet. The affected metal of the two sheets is momentarily plasticized and stirred, and the plasticized metal of the two sheets combines to form a weld between the metal sheets. The interposed polymer film may be intended to serve as an adhesive or a vibration damping medium or the like. The facing metal sheets can be layers of facing laminated metal sheet structures that each comprise two metal sheets bonded by an adhesive interlayer.

Friction stir weld bonding of metal-polymer-metal laminates

A high impact dry blendable polypropylene composition filled with mica and reinforced with an impact modifier of ethylene-propylene-diene monomer rubber/high density polyethylene.

Dry blendable polypropylene composition

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Oak Park, MI, United States of America

Douglas L Faulkner