Important results from the project
The project has achieved many of its goals. It has resulted in a further development of laser pretreatment before joining and in a comprehensive technical understanding of the effects from the laser pre-treatment. In particular for stainless steel, with the possibility of achieving durable and robust joints. The coated boron steels have been more challenging, but have in the end of the project shown promising results with adhesive bonding which, have been supplemented with welding trials.
Expected long term effects
The laser as a pre-treatment process has shown good results in the short term, in fatigue and in climate testing. The spread in results is low and overall, lasers can enable improved quality, improved longevity and competitiveness.
The project has been complemented with a study in spot induction curing as well as quality control. The industrialization studies also show the potential of the laser as a sustainable and cost-effective pretreatment process.
Approach and implementation
The project has included a larger generic study on stainless steel as well as one for coated boron steel. Several company-specific studies have been carried out, including a demonstrator and two industrialization cases. One of them also including a cost and sustainability assessment. The project has carried out various dissemination activities e.g within trade journals, workshops, a COST network and towards universities. Both national and international competences was used in the project.
The project description has been provided by the project members themselves and the text has not been looked at by our editors.
