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Toolfix Monthly<br />
Plastic Welding Solutions
Plastic Welding Process<br />
Plastic welding is the process of welding or joining softened plastic materials<br />
using heat. It is widely used for plastic fabrication, manufacture and<br />
repair of plastic tanks, surface vehicle repair, shrinking and forming<br />
thermo plastic parts and much more.<br />
Normally, there are 3 stages in the plastic welding process:<br />
+/-<br />
+/-<br />
+/-<br />
+/-<br />
Surface Preparation<br />
It is very important that all plastic components to be welded are clean. This<br />
may include: removing all paints, molds, oils etc. Wearing a face mask and<br />
gloves is recommended.<br />
Tools Preparation<br />
At this stage, you will need to turn on and preheat the hot air gun and put<br />
the correct welding rod into the welding nozzle. It is necessary that the<br />
substrate and the welding rod are of identical material. Polypropylene<br />
(PP), Polyethylene (PE) and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) are the three most<br />
common thermo plastics.<br />
Working Heat Temperatures:<br />
Each plastic has it's own working heat temperature:<br />
Polyethylene (PE): It has low water absorption and high tensile strength.<br />
Suitable for tanks, liners etc.<br />
Polypropylene (PP) : Most common, suitable for tanks, equipment, pipes<br />
ect. It has high tensile strength and good chemical resistance.<br />
PVC (polyvinyl chloride): It has good weather strength and is to corrosion<br />
resistant. Suitable for pipe, fume hoods and equipment etc.<br />
Note: WT - Working Temperature.<br />
Errors and omissions excepted
Know how to choose<br />
the correct plastic<br />
welding tool?<br />
1) Identify the material which your customer is<br />
going to weld. See chart on right and next page.<br />
This is important, because if the incorrect material<br />
are welded together, they will not bond.<br />
Know how to identify plastic?<br />
Normally you can find the identification sign<br />
on the surface of the material:<br />
This means the plastic is<br />
High Density Polyethylene.<br />
This means the plastic is<br />
Vinyl or Polyvinyl Chloride.<br />
This means the plastic is<br />
Low Density Polyethylene.<br />
Based on the working temperature of the material<br />
you will be able to determine the maximum<br />
temperature and airflow required to weld the<br />
plastic.<br />
2) It is important to identify how often the<br />
customer will be using the gun to weld. If the gun<br />
is to be used on a daily basis it will be necessary<br />
to recommend the industrial tool range over the<br />
professional range, which is ideal for<br />
small or irregular jobs.<br />
Tools and Accessories<br />
for Plastic Welding<br />
This means the plastic is<br />
Polypropylene.<br />
Learn how to identify the material without<br />
the sign, see next page.<br />
Professional Heat Gun Welding rod<br />
Welding Nozzles Water-based solvent<br />
Die Grinder Sandpaper Rags<br />
Mask Safety Glasses Foil tape<br />
Errors and omissions excepted
Test Identification for<br />
Common Thermo Plastics<br />
Small Piece<br />
in Water<br />
Burn<br />
Test<br />
Touch<br />
Test<br />
HDPE<br />
Working Temperature<br />
+/- 300 C<br />
Float<br />
Blue Flame<br />
Yellow Tip<br />
Wax Smell<br />
Hard, Can be Scratched<br />
by Fingernail<br />
LDPE<br />
Working Temperature<br />
+/- 250 C<br />
Float<br />
Blue Flame<br />
Yellow Tip<br />
Wax Smell<br />
Soft and Flexible,<br />
Easily Scratched<br />
PP<br />
Working Temperature<br />
+/- 250 C<br />
Float<br />
Blue Flame<br />
Yellow Tip<br />
Burnt Oil Smell<br />
PVC<br />
Working Temperature<br />
+/- 300 C<br />
ABS<br />
Working Temperature<br />
+/- 350 C<br />
Sink<br />
Sink<br />
Yellow Flame, Green Tip<br />
White Smoke, Acitic Smell<br />
Self-Extinguishable<br />
Blue Flame<br />
Yellow Tip<br />
Acitic Smell<br />
HDPE - High Density Polyethylene<br />
Steinel Part No. 071 219<br />
LDPE - Low Density Polyethylene<br />
Steinel Part No. 073 312<br />
PP - Polypropylene<br />
Steinel Part No. 073 411<br />
PVC - Polyvinyl Chloride<br />
Steinel Part No. 073 114<br />
ABS - Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene<br />
Steinel Part No. 074 210<br />
Errors and omissions excepted