Joining Assembly and Method for Joining Components

Abstract

A joining assembly includes metallic, ceramic, polymeric and/or fiber-reinforced components, which have at least one joining surface with at least one recess and/or raised area with an undercut. The joining assembly also includes a joining element that conforms in size and shape to the recess and/or the raised area of the components to be joined and has at least one flexible rim area. The flexible rim area can be placed in a form-locking and force-locking interconnection with the recesses and/or raised areas of the components to be joined. A method for joining components is also provided.

1 . A joining assembly, comprising:
 components to be joined, said components formed of at least one of metallic, ceramic, polymeric or fiber-reinforced materials, and said components having at least one joining surface with at least one of a recess or a raised area with an undercut; and   a joining element for joining said components, said joining element being adapted in shape and size to said at least one of a recess or a raised area of said components, and said joining element having at least one flexible rim area to be placed in a form-locking and force-locking connection with said at least one of a recess or a raised area of said components.   
   
   
       2 . The joining assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining element is formed of at least one of a metal, a polymer, a ceramic or a composite material. 
   
   
       3 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said metal is selected from the group consisting of noble steels, tool steels, case-hardening steels, construction steels, iron-cast alloys, hard metals and nonferrous metals. 
   
   
       4 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said ceramic is a hard material. 
   
   
       5 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said ceramic is a hard material selected from the group consisting of sintered alumina, silicon carbide ceramic, silicon nitride ceramic and hard material/metal/sintered composite materials. 
   
   
       6 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of industrial thermoplastics and duromers. 
   
   
       7 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said composite material is selected from the group consisting of glass fiber-reinforced plastics, carbon fiber-reinforced plastics, and boron fiber-reinforced plastics. 
   
   
       8 . The joining assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said joining element is formed of a graphite film having a thickness of 0.25 mm to 3 mm, and said rim area of said joining element is bordered by sheet steel. 
   
   
       9 . The joining assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining element has a shape selected from the group consisting of wavy, curved and flat. 
   
   
       10 . The joining assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining element has a thickness of from 0.10 mm to 5 mm. 
   
   
       11 . The joining assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining element has a thickness of from 0.2 mm to 3 mm. 
   
   
       12 . The joining assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said joining element has a rotationally symmetrical shape. 
   
   
       13 . A method for joining components, the method comprising the following steps:
 providing components to be joined, the components formed of at least one of metallic, ceramic or fiber-reinforced materials and having at least one flat joining surface and at least one of a recess or a raised area with an undercut disposed at an angle of from 20° to 60° relative to the components;   providing a substantially flat joining element adapted in size and shape to the at least one of a recess or a raised area of the components, the joining element having at least one flexible rim area; and   pressing the rim area and the at least one of a recess or a raised area of the components against one another into a form-locking and force-locking connection.   
   
   
       14 . The method according to  claim 13 , which further comprises carrying out the pressing step by deformation at room temperature in standard presses.