Using ultrasonics to heat plastic

[Plasmech]

Is it possible to use ultrasonic energy to heat a solid, such as plastic? Will ultrasonic energy excite the mollecules on the plastic enough to heat them to say 350F? Or do the frequencies we currently have available limit the amount of energy we can dump in?

 

[MintJulep]

Plastic is commonly welded by "ultrasonic welding" - although in reality the process uses high-frequency mechanical vibration.

 

[Transient1]

I imagine ultrasound could be used to melt plastic.

There's currently a product being developed to intravenously burn artery tissue to treat atrial fibrillation. It's called High Intensity focused ultrasound.

http://www.proRhythm.com

 

[Plasmech]

I guess there would be no way to control the actual temperature of the plastic with ultrasound.

 

[Transient1]

I think controlling the temperature could be done. If you have a finite rate of energy going into something, then for a given set of variables you have steady state operating conditions. From knowing what steady state is for a given set up, you could adjust the environment around the plastic or the rate/magnitude of the energy coming from the ultrasound device to control the temperature.

 

[vpl]

Plasmech

Short bursts? I imagine that's how they "weld" it.

Also, I would think that it depends on what eactly constitutes your plastic (material compostion, melting point, thickness)

Patricia Lougheed

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[dvd]

Instead of speculating about this you can get a definite answer from someone:

http://www.sonobondultrasonics.com/

http://www.bransonultrasonics.com/