Influence of the Welding Process on the Quality of PVC Frames

Abstract

This paper focuses on the technical and practical aspects arising during the process of window production. One of the phases in the window manufacturing process is welding PVC corners. Therefore, the main subject is flexural strength of PVC welds in the context of the required quality. In the first part of the paper, the authors highlighted the factors and conditions of the welding process and their influence on the final properties. In the next part of the study attention is mainly paid to the temperature control, which is often the cause of quality problems with welding corners. The welding process was conducted with the use of three types of welding machines, i.e. single-, double- and four-head units. In each case, the welding temperature was set in the controller of the machine; at the same time, the contact temperature measurement was taken. The next step was verification of the influence of temperature on the welded PVC corners by measuring the bending force according to PN-EN 514:2002. Additionally, the authors present the DIC (Digital Image Correlation) method used to assess displacements and strains for a selected case in the process of bending PVC corners. The study provides a basis for discussion and remarks about practical advice and identification problems associated with the durability of PVC welding in industrial processes.