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Letter 39089
Joining Polypropylene Sheet [New
Zealand]
January 19, 2006
Hi,
I operate a wind tunnel in New Zealand, We have just relaid
our moat(which is our water coolant supply for a 950 HP
Detroit) the PP is 1 mm thick and if you could tell me how
to join it together it would be much appreciated,we were
given some Butyl double sided tape to use but it did not
hold,
regards
Ron Morgan
bodyflying - Rotorua, New Zealand
First of two simultaneous responses -- January 20, 2006
Hi Ron,
Yucks, you were given some wrong info ... tape ????? Hell,
no.
To join PP sheet you'd need to weld it. Sorry. There's a
good Company called Thermoplastic Engineering in N.Z. ...
give them a call.
If you have lots and lots of welding to do, ah, then try
& get a welding gun WITH instructions (Over here it's
LARAMY a U.S. Company)
...STOP ... I then re-read your message. You are only using
an ultra thin l mm thick PP. Oh dear. This would really
present problems due to heat distortion with such a thin
laminate even to a fully experienced professional. H'mm.
What about overlapping by an inch or so and then 'soldering'
in on, ie. using an iron (?) ... so approach Thermoplastic
Engineering. ... who might well proffer better advice.
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Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada
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Second of two simultaneous responses -- January 22, 2006
You have to hot weld it using parent rod of polypro and
appropriate hot air guns (for very critical parts some
recommend inert gas instead of air). Any good plastic
fabricator can help you. Good luck.
Guillermo Marrufo
Monterrey, NL, Mexico
First of two simultaneous responses -- January 23, 2006
The most effective method of joining polypropylene sheet
is to weld it. Do a search on plastic or polypropylene
welding for more info.
John Martin
- Wales
Second of two simultaneous responses -- January 23, 2006
Hi Guillermo,
Re an inert gas for welding, the problems in Ye Olden Days
was with people using an ordinary compressor and ultra
minute traces of oil or condensation would result in some
poor welding.
One Company used to use silica gel to get a 'clean'
air.
A low output compressor is the answer ... this idea came
from Germany where, as you know, PVC was invented and where,
initially the best welders came from.
With Pe, the same family as PP, it seems that the surface
builds up an ultra thin oxide layer ... I would get a poor
result on welding a thin but clean l/8" laminate BUT if that
surface were scraped beforehand, ah, the weld appeared good
to an amateur like me. This is a REAL problem with l/16" PP
but the given l mm = a lousy l/32" !!!! Yucks !
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Freeman Newton
- White Rock, B.C. Canada
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January 24, 2006
Thanks to the two reply's , you have both been a lot of
help ,I have got onto a company that think they should be
able to weld it.
Regards,
Ron Morgan
- Rotorua , New Zealand
February 1, 2006
Sorry friends,,but for materials that thin , you need an
ultrasonic welder.. [I have one]
I have laramy - wegener - kamweld - liesters and god knows
how many others...I've never seen a heat welder work on
material .039 thick
Ron Landrette
- Bristol, CT, USA
Thanks, Ron. I know Ron, and Ron would know!
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Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, NJ
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