Plastic welding with digital printing technology
The high-precision laser welding process is increasingly being used today as an alternative to ultrasonic and high-frequency welding of plastics.
Plastic welding
The process-reliable and economical application of a complex additive is a prerequisite. In the past, there was no industrially suitable solution for this. Together with partners, REA JET has developed a highly interesting digital printing process using REA JET Clearweld Primer for automation.
Classically transparent plastics such as PE, PP, PC, PS and SAN naturally only have a limited laser absorption capacity, which makes plastic welding impossible or very difficult. With the REA JET solution, transparent and laser-transparent plastic materials can be prepared with the REA JET Clearweld Primer, which has a high specific laser energy, so that they can be welded with lasers. Injection-molded plastic parts and nonwovens can also be welded with this solution.
Coating process
- REA JET's range of activities
- Using REA JET HR printing technology, transparent plastic parts are digitally printed economically and precisely with REA JET Clearweld Primer
- The REA JET DOD 2.0 system is suitable for large areas
- The primer is highly effective at absorbing specific laser energy
- Automated digital printing of primer for reproducible, more cost-effective and better welding results
Pre-assembly process
- The REA JET Clearweld Primer dries on the surface of the plastic part within a very short time
- Positioning or pre-assembly of a second non-coated plastic part of the same material on the already coated plastic part in preparation for the welding process
Welding process
- While both parts are pressed against each other, specific laser energy is directed into the interfaces between the parts
- The laser beam passes through the upper part and the laser energy is absorbed in the welding area
- This generates heat that melts the plastic and welds the parts together
- After plasticization, the two parts are permanently joined together
Process advantages
The advantages of the REA JET Clearweld Primer solution
- Very good optical weld seam quality
- Very good strength of the weld seam
- As the REA JET Clearweld Primer loses its color during the laser welding process, the weld seam typically appears colorless after welding.
- No friction and no vibration during welding - particle-free welding process
- Extreme flexibility in contouring the weld seam
- Extremely high reproducibility, even and fine distribution of the primer over the contour
- Very short drying time of the primer on the plastic surface
- Suitability for automatic coating processes (high speed, linear movements, robot movements, etc.)
- Reduced thermal stress on the plastic components during the welding process
- Short welding time and high concentration of welding energy, especially for smooth plastic materials