Abstract
The present work deals with the high-power diode laser joining process of aluminum films coated with a polyester resin with polypropylene (PP) films. The first part of the work focused on analyzing the coating process of aluminum films with a polyester resin, using an automatic applicator. The second part of the work was focused on the analysis of the laser joining process of coated aluminum films with plastic counterparts made of PP. Different thicknesses and colors of the PP parts were tested in order to analyze the joining process under a wide range of different conditions. The experimental plan involved the study of the influence of the laser joining parameters, in particular the scanning speed and beam power, on the joints. The joints between aluminum and PP films were subsequently tested by means of tensile and peel-off tests. All the joints between aluminum and PP are obtained through the so-called laser transmission welding (LTW) mechanism. Analysis of the mechanical response of the welded joints allowed to identify the optimal processing window, that is, the choice of the operational parameters that leads to satisfactory welded joints, stating the high potential of laser systems in the joining process of aluminum and PP films for food packaging applications.
Highlights
Laser welding of plastics belong to the class of advanced technologies for joining films, sheets, semi-rigid and rigid components made of polymeric materials by localized heating with a focused beam of laser radiation [1]
Laser transmission welding of plastics can be performed by focusing the laser beam on the joint in two different ways: (i) the laser beam is irradiated to be tangent to the joint interface between the two materials that compose the assembly, of which, at least, one is able to capture the radiation [2]; (ii) the laser beam is irradiated normal to the joint interface across a laser-transparent material
The present work concerns the study of welded joints between aluminum and PP films, materials commonly used for food packaging
Summary
Laser welding of plastics belong to the class of advanced technologies for joining films, sheets, semi-rigid and rigid components made of polymeric materials by localized heating with a focused beam of laser radiation [1]. In food and pharmaceutical packaging, joining of polymers with dissimilar materials, like for example metal or cellulose paper is often required. There are no studies to date that evaluate laser joints of assemblies between coated aluminum and polymeric films for food and drug packaging, like, for example, in manufacturing of prebiotic and probiotic food supplements. This is the context in which, the present work studies the applicability of the laser transmission welding to films in PP and aluminum coated with a polyester resin
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