TWI

The development of a friction stir welding tool for thermoplastics, and specifically for ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene terpolymer), is described. To eliminate the voids and poor mixing which resulted when sheet ABS was welded using a tool designed for aluminium alloys, an alternative tool was designed, in which the shoulder was replaced by an externally heated, non-rotating shoe, which covered the weld and prevented the expulsion of melted plastic. The influences of tool speed, tool feed rate and pin shape on weld quality were determined by measuring the flexural, tensile and impact properties of ABS butt welds. Subsequently butt, flat lap and circumferential lap joints in high density polyethylene, poly(vinyl chloride) and polytetrafluoroethylene were welded.

2nd International Symposium, 26-28 Jun 2000, Session 5, Paper 03