Method of adhesive bonding by induction heating

• US 20040050839A1
• Filed: 09/12/2003
• Published: 03/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OMG Incorporated (Steel Partners Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Nexicor, LLC
• Inventors: Barber, John P., Malofsky, Adam G., Bauer, David P., Riess, Edward A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,849,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/603
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 13/01 by induction heating

Abstract

A method for using magnetic fields to heat magnetically susceptible materials within and/or adjacent to adhesives, so as to bond, bind, or fasten solid materials to one another. The system uses alternating magnetic fields that induce eddy currents and generate heat within susceptors. An induction heating tool is used to emit the magnetic field at its work coil, and an electronic controller measures the energy being used by a power converter that generates the alternating current driving the work coil which creates the magnetic field. The heating tool is used in a method of adhesive bonding in which the thickness of the conductive layer of the susceptor is in the range of 0.01-3.0 mils, or the heating event time interval is in the range of 0.05-10.0 seconds, or the average power density of the magnetic field at the susceptor is in the range of 10-5000 Watts per square inch.

Claims

1. A method of adhesive bonding by induction heating, comprising:

providing at least two substrates to be bonded;

providing a susceptor structure therebetween, said susceptor structure having a length, width, and thickness, said structure including at least one layer of an electrically conductive material, said structure including at least one layer of an adhesive material proximal to at least one of its outer surfaces, said structure being of a first characteristic by which said at least one layer of electrically conductive material generates an eddy current when exposed to a magnetic field of a predetermined minimum intensity, and said structure being of a second characteristic by which said at least one layer of electrically conductive material exhibits a thickness in the range of 0.01 mils (0.25 microns) through 3 mils (76 microns).

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said thickness is in the range of 0.05 mils (1.3 microns) through 2 mils (51 microns).

3. The method as recited in claim 2, wherein said thickness is in the range of 0.1 mils (2.5 microns) through 1 mil (25 microns).

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said susceptor contains aluminum as an alloy or layer or both, and said aluminum-containing component exhibits a thickness in the range of 0.01 mils (0.25 microns) to 2 mils (51 microns).

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein said thickness is in the range of 0.01 mils (0.25 microns) through 0.75 mils (19 microns).

6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said thickness is in the range of 0.01 mils (0.25 microns) through 0.55 mils (14 microns).

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 1 kHz through 1 MHz, inclusive.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 10-500 kHz, inclusive.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

exposing said susceptor structure to a magnetic field during a heating event at an average power density in the range of 10-5000 Watts per square inch of susceptor area, inclusive.

10. A method of adhesive bonding by induction heating, comprising:

providing at least two substrates to be bonded;

providing a susceptor structure therebetween, said susceptor structure having a length, width, and thickness, said structure including at least one layer of an electrically conductive material, said structure including at least one layer of an adhesive material proximal to at least one of its outer surfaces, said structure being of a first characteristic by which said at least one layer of electrically conductive material generates an eddy current when exposed to a magnetic field of a predetermined minimum intensity; and

exposing said susceptor structure to a magnetic field during a heating event for a time interval in the range of 0.05-10 seconds, inclusive.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said time interval is in the range of 0.1-5 seconds, inclusive.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said time interval is in the range of 0.1-2 seconds, inclusive.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 1 kHz through 1 MHz, inclusive.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 10-500 kHz, inclusive.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

exposing said susceptor structure to a magnetic field during a heating event at an average power density in the range of 10-5000 Watts per square inch of susceptor area, inclusive.

16. A method of adhesive bonding by induction heating, comprising:

providing at least two substrates to be bonded;

providing a susceptor structure therebetween, said susceptor structure having a length, width, and thickness, said structure including at least one layer of an electrically conductive material, said structure including at least one layer of an adhesive material proximal to at least one of its outer surfaces, said structure being of a first characteristic by which said at least one layer of electrically conductive material generates an eddy current when exposed to a magnetic field of a predetermined minimum intensity; and

exposing said susceptor structure to a magnetic field during a heating event at an average power density in the range of 10-5000 Watts per square inch of susceptor area, inclusive.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said average power density is less than or equal to 1000 Watts per square inch.

18. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said average power density is less than or equal to 500 Watts per square inch.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 1 kHz through 1 MHz, inclusive.

20. The method as recited in claim 19, wherein said magnetic field alternates at a frequency in the range of 10-500 kHz, inclusive.