Laser bonds plastics without pre-treatment
Canadian Plastics
Thanks to a set of novel laser bonding techniques developed by the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick in the UK, bonding pre-treatments for polypropylene-type materials may be un...
Thanks to a set of novel laser bonding techniques developed by the Warwick Manufacturing Group at the University of Warwick in the UK, bonding pre-treatments for polypropylene-type materials may be unnecessary.
Researcher Tony Hoult has improved on techniques for bonding difficult-to-join plastics by using a revolutionary, compact, high-powered (1.2 kilowatt) diode laser made by Rofin Sonar Ltd. The small size of its laser head allows it to be directly mounted on small, inexpensive assembly line robots.
Hoult’s system allows a range of plastics to behave as if they were transparent and allow the laser beam through to the interface between the two components. It is claimed to be able to bond a wide range of plastics to rubbers, plastics to foams and foams to foams quickly and easily.
Warwick Manufacturing Group 44/1203 522650
(Circle 134)