Trends and Future Projections in Ultrasonic Welding Research for Hybrid Materials

Ultrasonic welding has gained interest from various researchers and industries worldwide, particularly for joining dissimilar materials in sectors such as aerospace, aeronautics, and electronics. This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric review aimed at mapping the evolving landscape of ultrasonic welding research. Through the systematic analysis of 1913 scientific documents, it identifies key advances, challenges, and future directions in the field. Furthermore, the bibliometric analysis sheds light on annual scientific production, prolific authors and institutions, scientific contribution per country, and methodological approaches. The global collaboration network comprises countries from all continents, with a prominent presence in Europe, Asia, and the Americas and less representation from African and Oceanian countries. China and the United States dominate the field in terms of scientific document production, international collaborations, and citations, with Germany also standing out for leading the number of citations in research related to hybrid metal/polymer joining. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers interested in the advancements and future directions of ultrasonic welding for hybrid materials.