Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review
The present review provides an overview of the current status and future perspectives of one of the smart manufacturing techniques of Industry 4.0, laser transmission welding (LTW) of semi-crystalline (SC) polymers and their composites. It is one of the most versatile techniques used to join polymer...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-02-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/5/675 |
| _version_ | 1797395470786494464 |
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| author | Foram Dave Muhammad Mahmood Ali Richard Sherlock Asokan Kandasami David Tormey |
| author_facet | Foram Dave Muhammad Mahmood Ali Richard Sherlock Asokan Kandasami David Tormey |
| author_sort | Foram Dave |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present review provides an overview of the current status and future perspectives of one of the smart manufacturing techniques of Industry 4.0, laser transmission welding (LTW) of semi-crystalline (SC) polymers and their composites. It is one of the most versatile techniques used to join polymeric components with varying thickness and configuration using a laser source. This article focuses on various parameters and phenomena such as inter-diffusion and microstructural changes that occur due to the laser interaction with SC polymers (specifically polypropylene). The effect of carbon black (size, shape, structure, thermal conductivity, dispersion, distribution, etc.) in the laser absorptive part and nucleating agent in the laser transmissive part and its processing conditions impacting the weld strength is discussed in detail. Among the laser parameters, laser power, scanning speed and clamping pressure are considered to be the most critical. This review also highlights innovative ideas such as incorporating metal as an absorber in the laser absorptive part, hybrid carbon black, dual clamping device, and an increasing number of scans and patterns. Finally, there is presented an overview of the essential characterisation techniques that help to determine the weld quality. This review demonstrates that LTW has excellent potential in polymer joining applications and the challenges including the cost-effectiveness, innovative ideas to provide state-of-the-art design and fabrication of complex products in a wide range of applications. This work will be of keen interest to other researchers and practitioners who are involved in the welding of polymers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:35:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-e47ecc920f8740a0a721a88eee2d18b6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T00:35:58Z |
| publishDate | 2021-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-e47ecc920f8740a0a721a88eee2d18b62023-12-11T18:12:38ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602021-02-0113567510.3390/polym13050675Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical ReviewForam Dave0Muhammad Mahmood Ali1Richard Sherlock2Asokan Kandasami3David Tormey4Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, F91 YW50 Sligo, IrelandDepartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, F91 YW50 Sligo, IrelandCentre for Precision Engineering, Materials and Manufacturing (PEM) Centre, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, F91 YW50 Sligo, IrelandMaterials Science Group, Inter-University Accelerator Centre, Aruna Asaf Ali Marg, New Delhi 110 067, IndiaDepartment of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Institute of Technology Sligo, Ash Lane, F91 YW50 Sligo, IrelandThe present review provides an overview of the current status and future perspectives of one of the smart manufacturing techniques of Industry 4.0, laser transmission welding (LTW) of semi-crystalline (SC) polymers and their composites. It is one of the most versatile techniques used to join polymeric components with varying thickness and configuration using a laser source. This article focuses on various parameters and phenomena such as inter-diffusion and microstructural changes that occur due to the laser interaction with SC polymers (specifically polypropylene). The effect of carbon black (size, shape, structure, thermal conductivity, dispersion, distribution, etc.) in the laser absorptive part and nucleating agent in the laser transmissive part and its processing conditions impacting the weld strength is discussed in detail. Among the laser parameters, laser power, scanning speed and clamping pressure are considered to be the most critical. This review also highlights innovative ideas such as incorporating metal as an absorber in the laser absorptive part, hybrid carbon black, dual clamping device, and an increasing number of scans and patterns. Finally, there is presented an overview of the essential characterisation techniques that help to determine the weld quality. This review demonstrates that LTW has excellent potential in polymer joining applications and the challenges including the cost-effectiveness, innovative ideas to provide state-of-the-art design and fabrication of complex products in a wide range of applications. This work will be of keen interest to other researchers and practitioners who are involved in the welding of polymers.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/5/675Industry 4.0laser transmission weldingsemi-crystalline polymerscompositescarbon blackcharacterisation |
| spellingShingle | Foram Dave Muhammad Mahmood Ali Richard Sherlock Asokan Kandasami David Tormey Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review Polymers Industry 4.0 laser transmission welding semi-crystalline polymers composites carbon black characterisation |
| title | Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review |
| title_full | Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review |
| title_fullStr | Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review |
| title_full_unstemmed | Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review |
| title_short | Laser Transmission Welding of Semi-Crystalline Polymers and Their Composites: A Critical Review |
| title_sort | laser transmission welding of semi crystalline polymers and their composites a critical review |
| topic | Industry 4.0 laser transmission welding semi-crystalline polymers composites carbon black characterisation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/13/5/675 |
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