Thermoplastics, weldable plastics
September 17th, 2024
Get an overview of the most important plastics that can be welded – thermoplastics. Our PDF file for download not only contains a list of these thermoplastic materials, but also provides information on their properties and special features when welding.
What types of plastics are there?
Plastics are divided into three main groups based on their physical properties: thermoplastics, thermosets and elastomers.
Thermoplastics: These plastics consist mainly of linear molecular chains. When heated, the chains can slide past each other, making the plastic malleable and weldable.
Thermosets: These plastics are characterised by a dense network of molecular chains. When heated, their structure decomposes, making melting and welding impossible.
Elastomers: These materials have loosely cross-linked molecular chains that return to their original shape when exposed to heat. Permanent deformation through welding processes is therefore not possible.
Our list of thermoplastics (weldable plastics) contains the following information
- The weldability of individual plastics
- Optimal welding parameters
- Special features during processing
Thermoplastics, i.e. plastics that can be shaped by heat, are ideal for welding. These include polyethylene (PE, the most widely used plastic worldwide), polypropylene (PP), polybutene (PB), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polyamides (PA), polylactide (PLA), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS), polyether ether ketone (PEEK) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
Thermoplastics of the same type
Plastics of the same type, such as polystyrene with polystyrene or ABS with ABS, can be welded together without any problems. As a general rule, only thermoplastic sheets of the same type can be welded together homogeneously. When welding different types, we conduct tests in advance to find the best technical and physical solution if we cannot rely on our experience.
Technical thermoplastics that have been injection moulded or compression moulded, as well as fluoropolymers and polyester elastomers, can also be successfully welded using ultrasound.
Our downloadable document is primarily aimed at engineers and specialists who require specialised machinery or ultrasonic components for their production processes. Find out whether your plastic material is suitable for use in ultrasonic welding machines and what requirements need to be taken into account.
Download PDF file »
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