A novel double-side welding approach for friction stir welding of polypropylene plate

摘要

In almost every industry, polymer materials are in high demand in recent years due to their lightweight and easy formability. However, eco-friendly, cost-efficient and defect-free joining of polymers is a major concern. In this article, a novel approach is taken for friction stir welding of polypropylene by implementing a double-side welding technique. The effect of tool rotational speed on construction and properties of the welded joints are studied. The torque and forces exerted on the tool during double-side welding are compared with single-side welding. Cross-sectional morphology examination using optical and scanning electron microscope reveals defect-free sound welding by double-side weld with uniform material flow. The molecular bonds of the welded specimens are examined by FTIR analysis. The double-side welding technique yields superior joints in terms of tensile strength and flexural strength than the joints obtained by single-side welding.