Failure characterization of polypropylene block copolymer welded joints |
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| Authors: | Laura Fasce Adrián Cisilino Patricia Frontini Balazs Marczis Tibor Czigany |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ciencia y Tecnología de Materiales (INTEMA), Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Av. Juan B. Justo 4302, B7608FDQ, Mar del Plata, Argentina;2. Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Department of Polymer Engineering, Műegyetem rkp. 3, H-111, Hungary |
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| Abstract: | The failure behavior of polypropylene block copolymer double-V welded joints was investigated. Joints were prepared using the hot-gas welding technique at varying gas temperatures in the range of 230–260°C. Uniaxial tensile tests, fracture mechanics experiments, several microscopy techniques, and complementary FEM analysis were carried out to assess the quality of filler rods and welding interfaces. The developed interfaces were weaker than the parent material as a consequence of polymer chains segregation during the welding process. The hot-gas temperature had a marked effect on the failure behavior of the welds. The highest interface toughness was attained at the highest gas welding temperature used at which, polymer chains were able to quickly diffuse into the parent material enlarging the distance of penetration and hence the micro-deformation capability of the joint. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 47:1062–1069, 2007. © 2007 Society of Plastics Engineers |
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