TWI Industrial Member Report Summary 388/1989
N S Taylor
Scope
This report considers the ultrasonic welding of short glass fibre reinforced polyphenylene sulphide (PPS), a high temperature engineering thermoplastic. The construction and functions of the main components of an ultrasonic welding machine are discussed.
The report assesses the weldability of the material and determines process tolerances and the reproducibility of the results. Consideration is given towards improvements to the welding process by altering the fixturing material used.
The welds were evaluated by tensile testing, visual and microscopic examination. The influence of fibres on the joining mechanism is discussed both with respect to orientated fibres in the moulding, for example along internal weld lines, and fibre orientation as a result of the welding operation.