Patent ID: 10744721

Abstract:
A first aspect of the invention provides a method of joining a part to a composite component, the composite component comprising fibres impregnated with a matrix material, and the part comprising a plurality of projections, the method comprising: inserting the projections into the composite component; and pre-heating the projections before they are inserted into the composite component, so that the projections are at a higher temperature than the composite component as they are inserted into the composite component. The projections locally heat the matrix material of the composite component as they are pushed into the composite component. Increased temperature during insertion is advantageous as the reduced matrix viscosity, due to the increased temperature of the matrix, results in better consolidation of the fibres around the projections and minimises the distortion of the fibres. The composite component is only heated locally where heating is required, which removes the need to heat the entire composite component.