METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR MICROWAVE BONDING OF POLYETHYLENE PIPE

摘要

A method and article for microwave bonding of thermoplastic gipe such as that used in the distribution of natural gas. The article is a composite bonding material (CBM) having a thermoplastic matrix (14) (preferably polyethylene) which is miscible with the thermoplastic material of the pipe (20) and a plurality of microwave susceptor particles (11) dispersed throughout the matrix (14). The preferred susceptors have unproved heating properties whereby the total amount of metal oxide material in the CBM is about 1/10 of 1 % by weight. A strip or sleeve (24) is fashioned from the CBM and may be used, with or without a coupling, to join two pipes (20) or repair ruptures. The method includes positioning of the article at the pipe joint or rupture, and application of microwave energy in an amount sufficient to heat the susceptors and cause both the CBM matrix and the adjacent portion of the pipe to melt and flow together, thereby producing a fusion bond.