Laser transmission welding of PMMA to alumina ceramic

Abstract

In this paper, a method of laser transmission welding on ceramic surface after pulse laser microtexture pretreatment was proposed to address the problem that welding ceramics with high transparency polymers is demanded but difficult to be performed. In this method, the polymer flows into the micro-texture of the blind hole on the surface to form mechanical riveting to enhance the welding strength. The formation characteristics and welding mechanism of PMMA welded joint with micro-texture alumina ceramics were studied experimentally and simulatively. The effects of blind hole microtexture size, continuous laser power and continuous laser scanning rate on solution flow and welding strength were studied. The results showed that the air bubbles formed in the welded seam by entering the micro-texture blind hole and trapped air in the blind hole were the key factors affecting the strength of the joint. A 3D finite element model of the transient temperature field and flow field of polymer during laser welding was established. The simulation results showed that the polymer on the left side of the blind hole melted first when heated and inflowed along the wall due to the effects of self-gravity and buoyancy caused by temperature differences. The gas expanded and extruded upward to the left, forming bubbles in the polymer melt pool and pushing the polymer melt into the blind pore microtexture. Finally, a complete molten pool was formed. The flow of polymer melt, the formation of bubbles and the formation of joint were revealed.