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RF welding of PVC and other thermoplastic compounds
Author(s) -
Leighton J.,
Brantley T.,
Szabo E.
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
journal of vinyl technology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.295
H-Index - 35
eISSN - 1548-0585
pISSN - 0193-7197
DOI - 10.1002/vnl.730150313
Subject(s) - welding , materials science , thermoplastic , composite material , radio frequency , polymer , computer science , telecommunications
Many of the acclaimed advances in medical sciences have been possible because of the improvements in material sciences, particularly plastic. Radio frequency (RF) sealing of plastics has adopted an increasingly important role as a means of manufacturing medical devices. A high intensity radio signal is used to impart increased molecular vibration in two similar or dissimilar polymers. RF sealing is one of the methods for fabrication that allows the designer to seal or connect different types of plastics. This study addresses the effectiveness of this welding method applied to various commercially significant medical grade polymers with emphasis on PVC of varying hardness. The study compares measured weld strength and weld quality (inspected microscopically) at ambient and elevated temperatures. Also, selected samples of polymeric compounds were exposed after RF welding to gamma radiation, a method of medical device sterilization, in order to study the effects on the weld strength and color shift in the weld area. Of prime interest is the determination of optimum welding parameters for various constructions of plastic compounds.