Joining polymeric materials

摘要

Systems and methods for joining polymeric materials together may use lasers or broadband infrared heat sources. The polymeric materials are arranged in an overlapping manner and then are exposed to the heat producing radiation for a sufficient time to join the polymeric materials together at the overlapped area. Such systems and methods may avoid the need to add an energy absorbing dopant to the materials being joined. Such systems and methods also may be used on transparent materials.

主权项

1. A method of joining at least two polymeric sheet portions, comprising:
arranging a first polymeric sheet portion and a second polymeric sheet portion in an overlapping manner on a base support member such that a major surface of the second polymeric sheet portion is adjacent the base support member, wherein the entire base support member is formed of a non-metallic material that is selected from the group consisting of: graphite, a rubber material, a ceramic material, and a stone material and: (a) is a good absorber of laser energy for at least one laser wavelength or a narrow laser wavelength band, (b) has low heat conductivity, (c) has a high melting point relative to the second polymeric sheet portion, and (d) has a low reflectivity of the laser energy; and exposing an overlapped area of the first and second polymeric sheet portions to laser energy for a sufficient time to join the first and second polymeric sheet portions together at the overlapped area exposed to the laser energy, wherein the laser energy is substantially absorbed by the base support member to thereby locally heat the base support member, wherein the heating of the base support member increases a temperature of the second polymeric sheet portion and the first polymeric sheet portion to thereby soften or melt the first and second polymeric sheet portions at the overlapped area exposed to the laser energy and to thereby join the first and second polymeric sheet portions together at the overlapped area exposed to the laser energy.