Failure analysis of polypropylene block copolymer welded joints

PATRICIA FRONTINI; LAURA FASCE; VALERIA PETTARIN; ADRIAN CISILINO

Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Conferencia; Annual Technical Conference of the Society of Plastics Engineers ANTEC 2006; 2006

Society of Plastics Engineers

Failure behavior of polypropylene block copolymer welded joints was investigated. Double V welded joints were performed using an automated hot gas welding machine, which is able to independently control welding parameters leading to reproducible welded joints. Uniaxial tensile tests and fracture mechanics experiments were carried out. From these results and complementary FEM analysis, the quality of welding rods and welding interfaces were assessed. By using different specimen configurations and optical microscopy the damage zones generated during mechanical solicitation of the joints were investigated. Welded joints coming up from three hot gas temperatures in the range of 230 to 260ºC were analyzed.