Welding and bonding of UHMWPE sheet

[Sergei Slovenija]

What would you make with ≥ 1mm thick UHMWPE sheet? If it is easy to weld with a hair dryer and can stick together.

I know that there is no such supply in the market, but let's say this opportunity appeared.

I'm thinking about making a boat, like a canoe. What would you do?

 

[James1979]

I have a truck body that is made like that.

Much better than fibreglass.

Look at strongs bodies. Edit - here: https://www.strongs.co.uk/

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

I have a truck body that is made like that.

Much better than fibreglass.

Look at strongs bodies. Edit - here: https://www.strongs.co.uk/

1 mm!!! Thick sheet lining, no problem. There is a place to hide the head of the bolt. I read about a variant of sheets from Germany, with a vulcanized rubber layer. Solving the problem of adhesion in this way.

I mean self-supporting sheet. Glued or butt welded.

 

[James1979]

I read it as equal or greater than 1mm?

There are no bolts in my body. It is fully welded plastic

 

[bricol]

Not found anything that will reliably bond it for a long time - have to back it up with mechanical fasterners.

 

[James1979]

I think that’s what they use to line hospitals and prison cells? Mates boy fits it.

They use a 2k adhesive. He did my old wet room with it. Welded the seams etc

The adhesive is nasty stuff

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

I read it as equal or greater than 1mm?

There are no bolts in my body. It is fully welded plastic

1 or 2 or 3 mm. Within these limits. For an indestructible boat, 1mm is more than enough. More thickness, more weight.

UHMWPE is not a thermoplastic in the usual sense. There is no melting point, there is a softening point. Therefore, I doubt that the body is welded from UHMWPE sheets, or I don’t know something. Sometimes, HDPE sheets are called a high molecular weight polymer, but this is a stretch of the meaning. There are no problems with HDPE welding.

 

[James1979]

1 or 2 or 3 mm. Within these limits. For an indestructible boat, 1mm is more than enough. More thickness, more weight.

UHMWPE is not a thermoplastic in the usual sense. There is no melting point, there is a softening point. Therefore, I doubt that the body is welded from UHMWPE sheets, or I don’t know something. Sometimes, HDPE sheets are called a high molecular weight polymer, but this is a stretch of the meaning. There are no problems with HDPE welding.

That will be the confusion then. It’s probably HDPE

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

I think that’s what they use to line hospitals and prison cells? Mates boy fits it.

They use a 2k adhesive. He did my old wet room with it. Welded the seams etc

The adhesive is nasty stuff

overlap can be glued (IMHO, only shear work) but 1 mm butt, this opens up other possibilities.

 

[James1979]

What about heating the edge and forming a lap joint which you can then bond?

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

What about heating the edge and forming a lap joint which you can then bond?View attachment 359413

It is pointless to heat UHMWPE.

Let me explain. There is a theoretical possibility

1) to perform butt-butt welding or gluing of the sheet edge.

2) Let's make the assumption that the low surface energy polyolefin issue is a settled issue. The strength of the seam is equal to the strength of the virgin polymer.

3) The work of the adhesive seam, "for shear", is not the work of the seam "for break".

Assuming that you can have thin sheets of UHMWPE that can be easily connected, what would you make? Well, just dream.

Although, if you do not know about the properties of UHMWPE and how it differs from other polymers, my question does not make sense. Oops.

 

[indy4x]

Not found anything that will reliably bond it for a long time - have to back it up with mechanical fasterners.

Ditto

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

Ditto

It is necessary to check how the UHMWPE plate is scraped. I’m just racking my brains on how to repair the caliper group of the lathe. Filling compound or gluing a strip of polymer, like turcite or Zedex

 

[PhillipM]

I don't think you'll find anything reliable with UHMWPE long term for bonding, even if you acid etch the surfaces and corona/flame treat it bonding it never ends up very strong - unless you can somehow apply a lot of pressure at the same time as heating it.

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

I don't think you'll find anything reliable with UHMWPE long term for bonding, even if you acid etch the surfaces and corona/flame treat it bonding it never ends up very strong - unless you can somehow apply a lot of pressure at the same time as heating it.

I think I can. Plasma is old toys. Here the task is to protect the reverse side from modification, otherwise everything will stick to it.

 

[Screwdriver]

1 or 2 or 3 mm. Within these limits. For an indestructible boat, 1mm is more than enough. More thickness, more weight.

UHMWPE is not a thermoplastic in the usual sense. There is no melting point, there is a softening point. Therefore, I doubt that the body is welded from UHMWPE sheets, or I don’t know something. Sometimes, HDPE sheets are called a high molecular weight polymer, but this is a stretch of the meaning. There are no problems with HDPE welding.

Not sure where you are going with this or why you suggest UHMWPE is "not a thermoplastic" when obviously, it is.

It can be welded the only caveat being whatever surface contamination may be left from the production (typically silicone). Needs to be scuffed, welding rods are available (not that sort!).

 

[Sergei Slovenija]

Not sure where you are going with this or why you suggest UHMWPE is "not a thermoplastic" when obviously, it is.

It can be welded the only caveat being whatever surface contamination may be left from the production (typically silicone). Needs to be scuffed, welding rods are available (not that sort!).

Yes, it is in the group of thermoplastics, but it has a record enthalpy and viscosity. Therefore, sheets and other semi-finished products are pressed from powder, thus bypassing these disadvantages. But where there are disadvantages, there are also great advantages. I believe that Zedex 100, if it is based on PETG, will yield to UHMWPE, if the problem of gluing is solved. I will try, because my place of work allows you to use unique technologies for other tasks.