FRACTURE CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYPROPYLENE BLOCK COPOLYMER WELDED JOINTS

LAURA FASCE; PATRICIA FRONTINI; ADRIÁN CISILINO; BALAZS MARCZIS; TIBOR CZIGANY

Mar del Plata

Congreso; JORNADAS SAM/CONAMET; 2005

The aim of this work was to extensively explore the fracture behavior of polypropylene block copolymer welded joints processed by hot gas welding. Welded joints were performed using an especial developed automated welding machine, which is able to independently control the welding parameter leading to reproducible welded joints. Fracture toughness parameters of the resulting filler rods and welding interfaces were assessed by means of the linear elastic critical stress intensity factor concept using different specimen configurations. A novel joint efficiency definition based on these parameters is introduced to evaluate welded joints performance. Welded joints arisen from three hot gas temperatures in the range of to 260ºC were studied.