ABSTRACT
This chapter reflects the fact that only under very rare circumstances is a composite component ready for use directly following demolding. Secondary processing operations normally required include machining, joining, surface treatment, and sometimes repair. In many cases these operations bear significant resemblance to those used with traditional construction materials, but for the most part the differences are great and secondary processing tends to be considerably more difficult with composites than with metals, wood, plastics. Other machining techniques that have proven technically feasible with composites but are not in widespread use include electro-discharge machining, electro-chemical machining, and ultrasonic machining. One of the major advantages of composites over other material concepts is the possibility of designing and manufacturing large, geometrically complex, and highly integrated components to reduce the overall number of parts and thus joints. In fusion bonding molecular interdiffusion across the interface between the components to be joined is responsible for bond formation.
