17/11/2011 ULTRASONIC WELDING: A "Green" technology

Ultrasonic Welding is the fastest and most cost effective method used today to join and assemble plastic parts and non-ferrous metals. Ultrasonic welding is cost effective and can be considered a "green" technology because it eliminates the need of fasteners, adhesives and / or solvents. Ultrasonic Welding can be used to join all rigid thermoplastics, synthetic fabrics and films. To weld it is used an acoustic tool called sonotrode (horn) desiged and built to fit to the parts to be welded. The sonotrode generates friction between the parties through a vibration with an ultrasound frequency. This intense vibration, generates heat and thus melt thermoplastic materials providing the welding and the assembly.
The main components of an of ultrasonic welding system are the generator, the transducer or converter, the mechanical amplifier, the sonotrode, the holding fixture and a suitable working system ( ultrasonic welder).

           Example of welded samples