Laser transmission welding (LTW), a technique to join thermoplastic components, involves a laser beam passing through a laser-transmitting part and then being absorbed by the laser-absorbing part at the weld interface. To form a strong bond, it is important that the weld interface be exposed to sufficient heat to melt the polymer without degrading it. A lap-joint geometry was investigated and the interaction between a stationary laser beam and the plastic was observed using a thermal imaging camera. Several coatings on the surface observed by the camera were evaluated. Time histories and temperature distribution on the sample surface transverse to the joint interface were obtained. Soot-coated surface was found to heat up in response to the scattered laser light, providing means for estimation of the scattered light intensity.

1.
Becker
,
F.
 &
Potente
,
H.
 (
2002
)
A step towards understanding the heating phase of laser transmission welding in polymers
”,
Polymer Engineering and Science
,
42
(
2
),
365
–
374
.
https://doi.org/10.1002/pen.10954
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
2.
Yoder
,
J.
 (
2000
)
Thermocouple technology, a matter of resistance and metal InTech
, http://www.flowresearch.com/articles/InTech%203_17_00.PDF.
3.
Haferkamp
,
H.
,
Von Busse
,
A.
,
Hustedt
,
M.
,
Bunte
,
J.
,
Haberstroh
,
E.
 &
Luetzeler
,
R.
 (
2004
)
Utilisation of a thermographic process in order to determine the laser weldability of plastics at different wavelengths
,
Welding and Cutting
,
3
(
1
),
43
–
49
.
Google Scholar
 
4.
Russek
,
U.A.
,
Palmen
,
A.
,
Staub
,
H.
,
Pohler
,
J.
,
Wenzlau
,
C.
,
Otto
,
G.
,
Poggel
,
M.
,
Koeppe
,
A.
 &
Kind
,
H.
 (
2003
)
Laser beam welding of thermoplastics
,
Proceedings of SPIE
,
4977
,
458
–
472
.
https://doi.org/10.1117/12.478606
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
5.
Speka
,
M.
,
Mattei
,
S.
,
Pilloz
,
M.
 &
Ilie
,
M.
 (
2007
)
The infrared thermography control of the laser welding of amorphous polymers
,
NDT&E international
, doi:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ndteint.2007.10.005
.
Google Scholar
 
6.
Haberstroh
,
E.
,
Schulz
,
J.
 &
Luetzeler
,
R.
 (
2002
)
Thermographic characterisation of polymers for the laser transmission welding
,
ANTEC
,
1137
–
1141
.
Google Scholar
 
7.
Mayboudi
,
L.S.
,
Birk
,
A.M.
,
Zak
,
G.
 &
Bates
,
P.J.
 (
2006
)
A three-dimensional thermal finite element model of laser transmission welding for T-joint
,
International Journal of Modelling and Simulation
, Accepted on June 11, 2007, Ref:
205
–
4747
.
Google Scholar
 
8.
Mayboudi
,
L.S.
,
Birk
,
A.M.
,
Zak
,
G.
 &
Bates
,
P.J.
 (
2007
)
Laser transmission welding of a lap-joint: thermal imaging observations and 3-D finite element modelling
,
ASME Journal of Heat Transfer
,
129
(
9
),
1177
–
1186
.
https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2740307
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
9.
Mayboudi
,
L.S.
,
Birk
,
A.M.
,
Zak
,
G.
 &
Bates
,
P.J.
 (
2007
)
A 3-D thermal model for spot laser transmission welding of thermoplastics
,
Welding in the World Journal
,
51
(
1/2
),
74
–
78
.
https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03266551
Google Scholar
Crossref
Search ADS
 
11.
Rinaldi
,
R.
 (
2002
)
Emissivity: the common problem for all thermographers
,
INFRAMATION
,
3
(
4
),
1
–
4
.
Google Scholar
 
12.
Siegel
,
R.
 &
Howell
,
J.R.
 (
1992
)
Thermal Radiation Heat Transfer
,
Taylor and Francis
, third edition.
Google Scholar
 
13.
Incropera
,
F.P.
 &
DeWitt
,
D.P.
 (
1996
)
Introduction to Heat Transfer
, Third Edition,
John Wiley & Sons
.
Google Scholar
 
14.
Shih
,
T.M.
 (
1984
)
Numerical Heat Transfer
,
Hemisphere Publishing Co
.
Google Scholar
 
15.
DSM
,
Manufacturer’s Data Sheet for Akulon
This content is only available via PDF.
© 2008 Laser Institute of America.
2008
Laser Institute of America
You do not currently have access to this content.