# 1.1.11 Thermal Joint: Thermal Plastic Welding

> From: LOCTITE®X Digital Manual for Bonding (https://www.loctitex.com/en/manuals/bonding/1.1.11-thermal-joint-thermal-plastic-welding/)

#### 1.1.11 Thermal Joint: Thermal Plastic Welding

Thermal welding merges thermoplastic parts with heat and pressure. Many plastics can be welded, such as acrylic or polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PETE or PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS). Plastic welding may also repair cracks in damaged plastic pieces.

Requirements include hot air welding tools, plastic welding rods, extruders, heating and cooling time, and pressure. Most plastic welding processes require fixtures to hold the plastic components together to form a complete bond as the heat is added to the weld joint.