Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
(OP)
Hello,
I have an ABS part with a standard energy director profile (per ultrasonic welding equipment maker Dukane's recommendation) that the plastic injection molder indicated that they cannot produce. The profile is a right triangle, where the base is 0.5mm and the height from center of base to apex is 0.25mm. The molder suggested that due to machining limitation, that the height be 0.5mm, creating an equilateral triangle profile instead. This would deviate from Dukane's suggested profile.
Would this taller energy director make it more or less optimal for sonic welding? I'm contemplating using acetone to bond the parts if sonic welding would not be possible if I use the molder's recommendation. The solvent would melt the ABS plastic together, similar to what sonic welding would do, but I'm not certain whether this bonding method would produce a weaker bond or not. Any advise? Thanks in advance.
Howard
I have an ABS part with a standard energy director profile (per ultrasonic welding equipment maker Dukane's recommendation) that the plastic injection molder indicated that they cannot produce. The profile is a right triangle, where the base is 0.5mm and the height from center of base to apex is 0.25mm. The molder suggested that due to machining limitation, that the height be 0.5mm, creating an equilateral triangle profile instead. This would deviate from Dukane's suggested profile.
Would this taller energy director make it more or less optimal for sonic welding? I'm contemplating using acetone to bond the parts if sonic welding would not be possible if I use the molder's recommendation. The solvent would melt the ABS plastic together, similar to what sonic welding would do, but I'm not certain whether this bonding method would produce a weaker bond or not. Any advise? Thanks in advance.
Howard





RE: Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
Chris DeArmitt PhD
President - Phantom Plastics LLC
Consulting, ideas and training on plastic materials
www.phantomplastics.com
RE: Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
RE: Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
You could use laser welding if the design doesn't suit US welding.
I can't say which is stronger but I'm not sure I'd use the solvent bonding unless you had a male/female type connection to ensure good contact during bonding.
BTW, ABS works great with adhesives.
RE: Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?
It does indeed. Cyanoacrylates work a treat. If fact, apart from skin, ABS is about the only stuff I've found which bonds well with cyanoacrylates.
I would not use MEK for H&S reasons - liver damage I believe.
H
www.tynevalleyplastics.co.uk
It's ok to soar like an eagle, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.
RE: Which offers stronger ABS-to-ABS bonding, ultrasonic welding or use of solvent (acetone)?