Thermal Fusion Bonding

Microfabrication was achieved by UV-lithography with a negative photoresist SU-8 2035 based on a nickel plate [163], By means of electroforming of the exposed and developed resist structure, a nickel mold was prepared (see Figure 1.182). By hot embossing, the final polymer mixer structures were prepared. Holes for fluid connectors were drilled. The microstructured substrate was joined with a blank polymer plate by thermal fusion bonding. 

Obeid and coworkers [128] reported a microsystem fabricated on two glass plates (each 40 x 45 x 0.55 mm), where a continuous channel network was etched into the bottom plate by standard photolithography and wet chemical etching, followed by thermal fusion-bonding of the two plates to form a closed stmcture. This system (see Fig. 14a) used a continuous flow concept to demonstrate functional integration of reverse transcription (RT) and PCR (RT-PCR) with operator selection of the number of amplification cycles to secure the results shown in Fig. 14b. The RT phase of the measurement involved the synthesis of DNA using mRNA templates and was performed before DNA amplification to allow quantification of mRNAs. The integration of RT and PCR processes within a monolithic chip is often problematic as RT components can interfere with the subsequent PCR... 

Thermal fusion bonding is a process that fuses more than one material or substrate via a thermal cycle. The temperature for performing this process is usually a bit higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg) of the material. 

Thermally bonded Randomly laid fibers are held together by thermal fusion at myriad points. 

Fusion bonding Hot press bonding Thermal bonding... 

Polypropylene is used to line vessels and piping. The material may be joined by thermal fusion. In order to be bonded to a substrate, polypropylene sheets must have a backing imbedded since PP by itself can not be bonded. If no backing is imbedded, the liner will be loose. Piping is lined with extruded material and installed in the pipe as a loose Uner. 

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