Method for Determining the Temperature in a Joining Zone

The invention relates to a method for determining the temperature in a joining zone in a vibration welding process, wherein a first joining partner (1) and a second joining partner (2) are welded together, characterised in that the first and second joining partners (1, 2) act as a thermocouple, wherein, using a first measuring element (5) contacting the first joining partner (1) at a cold site (3) and a second measuring element (10) contacting the second joining partner at a distance from a hot site (8), a potential difference (PI) between the first and second joining partners (1, 2) is detected during the welding process: wherein the second measuring element (10) has a higher temperature than the temperature of the cold site (3) in the region of contact with the second joining partner (2) and has a material of the same type as the second joining partner (2): the potential difference (PI) is compared with material-specific calibration data and processed using a data processing system (7) and the welding process is controlled according to the determined potential difference (PI): the first joining partner (1) is in the form of a multi-wire cable: the first measuring element (5) is in the form of a measuring line, which is connected to the first joining partner (1) by its first end and connected to a data processing system (7) at a measuring point (6) by its second end: the first joining partner (1) and/or the first measuring element (5) are made from aluminium; the second joining partner (2) and/or the second measuring element (10) are made from copper; and the temperature of the cold site corresponds to the ambient temperature of approx. 20° and the contacting takes place in the region of the hot site (8) at a temperature greater than the ambient temperature.