CO2 laser welding of polymers

Abstract

Deep penetration welding of polymers can be carried out at high speed with relatively low laser power. This results from an efficient coupling CO₂ laser radiation to polymers that leads to volume heating. A brief review of energy coupling and heat transfer effects in polymers under CO₂ laser welding conditions is given. Some examples of low power (10 to 100 watt) CO₂ welding of polypropylene and polyethylene at depths of up to 1.5 cm are discussed.