ClearWeld™ process

An alternative system that enables the welding of transparent or opaque plastic materials has been developed by TWI Ltd in conjunction with CENTEX Corporation [6]. The Clearweld process utilizes organic-based near infrared absorbers as coatings on polymers or as additives to resins. 

Woosman, N., Sallavanti, R., Achievable Weld Strengths for Various Thermoplastics Using the Clearweld Process , Proc. ANTEC 03, Nashville, TN. 

Nicole M. Woosman, Michelle M. Brurell, , SPE ANTEC 2004, Evaluating Qnasi-Simultaneous and Contour Welding for use with the Clearweld process... 

Clearweld is a further enhancement of the transmission laser welding process that provides designers with a tool to laser weld clear, coloured or opaque thermoplastics. Clearweld uses materials capable of strong absorption in the NIR spectrum which impart minimal colour. It can be used in number of ways, including, but not limited to, a coating at the joint line, inclusion within the substrate or application as a consumable film. Compared with previous technologies, it offers complete freedom in the choice of colour, reflectivity and transparency of the work pieces at visible wavelengths. 

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