Plastic Welding Explained

Industrial & Manufacturing Blog

In common with metal welding, heat is the principle agent when it comes to plastic welding. In order to melt two or more pieces of plastic together, they must have the correct thermoplastic qualities. Some plastics, like plexiglass, acrylic and nylon, have these attributes and some do not. Before attempting to weld any two plastics together it is important to confirm their melting points because some won't melt at a point that makes it convenient to fashion a single, connected object. However, if the two sections being welded together are of the same type with similar melting points, then it is possible to proceed.

Methods for Welding Plastic

Welding can be carried out using a number of different techniques. The methods in common usage today include hot gas emission, high-frequency and hot plate welding. Another popular method is so-called solvent welding. The equipment used for each type of welding depends on the preferred method. However, the method chosen comes down to the material qualities of the plastic involved.

Therefore, determining the exact properties of each material is the key factor before any one methodology is chosen over another. Asking plastic or perspex suppliers to detail the technical attributes of each material supplied is usually enough to allow plastic fabricators to select the correct welding method for their needs.

When is Plastic Welding Carried Out?

One of the most frequent reasons for welding plastics together is for plumbing applications. When items such as water tanks or silos are fabricated from plastic, their connected plumbing might need to be fixed permanently in position. Hot gas welding is commonly used in order to carry out this sort of work. PVC and polyurethane can be welded into watertight products, too, although high-frequency welding tends to be the favoured technique for these particular thermoplastics. Under this process, electromagnetic waves affect the parts of the plastic that are to be welded such that they merge into one another in a highly accurate way.

Hot plate welding is an industrialised process and typically used in large manufacturing settings for big pieces of thermoplastic. Finally, solvent welding is the preferred method to connect two thermoplastics with differing melt points effectively, for example, perspex and polypropylene. In cases such as this, the solvent, rather than the thermoplastics themselves, is melted and mingles with each of the plastic sections being welded. It, therefore, acts like a glue that makes them adhere to one another, hence the name.

Talk with plastic fabricators to learn more about creating plastic items.

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6 March 2017

Source Of Life: Charity Work And Water Pumps

Greetings to all who come here. My name is Brad Hansen and I am an accountant who happens to know an awful lot about wells. My church began charity work in Cambodia over a decade ago and it has installed dozens of wells in villages across the country. Before I started helping in Cambodia, I had no idea about different types of water pumps. Over the years, I have learnt that different pumps are needed depending on terrain and usage. Of course, making sure that pumps are cost effective and easily maintained is important for charity projects. These days, I use my accountancy skills to purchase water pumps and other equipment at the best possible prices. Initially, I honed my understandings through research and talking to experts, so I feel that I have some knowledge to share. I hope readers of this blog find it helpful. Peace to you all.