Welding dissimilar plastics
Welding dissimilar plastics
(OP)
Has anyone had experience spin welding or vibration welding dissimilar plastics such as Polypropylene and ABS. I have a pressure vessel that I want to make cheap (the PP) and a small part that I need get an adhesive to stick to (the ABS). I would like to weld the two parts together. Any info would be appreciated.






RE: Welding dissimilar plastics
Even if you get a positive answer to your question about spin welding your materials together, it would be a major mistake to not test the materials in a prototype situation. A wide range of different properties exist in each of the materials.
As far as researching a good adhesive, start with this website:
http://www.3m.com/US/mfg_industrial/index.jhtml
Good Luck
Live Aloha
Frank M.
Tradewind Resources
http://www.tr-usa.com
RE: Welding dissimilar plastics
You would have to design your pp part with pegs then sit the ABS part onto the pegs and peen the pegs over using an ultrasonic horn.
I think that getting a reliable bond from vibration weling would be difficult unless you can design a locking joint that you flood fill with the moulten polymer.
One problem is that the softening temperatures of the two plastics are very different (ABS about +50 deg C on PP).
Hope this helps.
For further information you might think about talking to a system builder for ultrasonic machines as thaey will have many experiences of different joining systems.