Correcting Issues With Industrial Equipment

How Does A Plastic Welding Company Determine Whether Two Plastic Pieces Can Be Welded Together?

8 March 2017 by Joann Freeman

A plastic welder welds pieces of plastic together. When plastic is heated up, it begins to melt. When two pieces are heated up and melted at the same time, they can be combined together, forming one piece. This is commonly done with plastic pipes, helping to make a piece of plastic longer or add permanent attachments to the pipes, like elbows or end caps. However, there are other reasons aside from plumbing that plastic welding is done. Many children's toys have undergone the process of plastic welding, as have plastic kitchen cooking utensils. Regardless of what needs to be welded, it is important to understand that plastic is not the same. There are different types of plastic. And not every type of plastic can be welded with a different type of plastic. This may leave you wondering how a company for plastic welding determines what can and can't be welded. Here are two of the factors they look at.

The Melting Temperature of Each Piece of Plastic

In order for two pieces of plastic to be welded together, the melting temperature of both pieces of plastic needs to be similar. If one piece of plastic melts at a lower temperature than the other, you have an issue. You can't heat up one piece and weld, because the temperature isn't high enough to melt one of your plastic pieces. But if you increase the temperature, the piece that melts at a lower temperature can actually burn or become damaged. The exact variation that is acceptable between the two pieces of plastic varies based on the exact composition of plastic and the welding technique used. But when possible, you want the temperatures to melt the plastic to be similar.

If the Composition of the Plastics Are Compatible

The other major factor that a plastic welding company will look at when determining if your plastic pieces can be welded together is the composition of both pieces of plastic and if they are compatible. Some pieces just don't adhere with each other at all or very well. A welder may know from personal experience whether the two compositions are compatible, or they may use a chart to help them determine if they are. If the pieces are not compatible, the weld may not hold, and therefore, a welder won't weld them together.

Before a plastic welding company will take on your plastic welding project, they will look to make sure that the melting temperatures of the two pieces you want welded together are similiar and that the composition of the plastics are compatible. This can greatly affect the integrity of the weld and whether your project can be completed. If your items cannot be welded, a company like MGM Plastics will be able to advice you on what types of plastics are compatible with the items you already own.

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