High Frequency Welding vs Hot Air, Gluing and Sewing

High frequency welding is a method used by many companies worldwide for the joining of PVC materials. But, high frequency welding is not the only option. There are other methods available and these are below along with explanations for high frequency and the other methods: Hot air/hot wedge: 2 alternatives to HF or RF welding are welding with hot air or hot wedge. These techniques involve heat being transferred to the material surfaces from the outside and are limited to thin sheets of material because the heat must be transported from the outer to the inner material surfaces in order to fuse them. If the material is too thick, it takes time and the outer material surfaces will be overheated before the inner ones have been heated sufficiently. HF: The High frequency or Radio Frequency technique overcomes this problem because of the electrical field that generates the heat in a high frequency welding machine as it has the highest effect in the center of the sheets being welded. This eliminates the risk of the material overheating and damaged to the surrounding material thus making the product waste. High Frequency is also faster and produces a more durable and more uniform weld. High Frequency welding does not discharge any gases and consumes less energy, which is better for the environment and of course saves money. Gluing: Compared to gluing, High Frequency welding (Radio Frequency welding) saves a lot of time and produces a water tight, airtight seam that is significantly stronger than a glued seam. High Frequency welding also eliminates the use of adhesive, which contains solvents that could be harmful to production personnel and is not good for the environment. Sewing: Materials joined with a sewing machine are of course held together, but are neither air-tight nor waterproof, which are often mandatory requirements for products like tents or products that are designed to be filled with air or water. When a sewn joint is stressed, the load is put on the thread holding the joined material together. However, when an HF-welded (RF weld) seam is stressed, the load is absorbed by the material surfaces, which of course means that the HF-welded seam is stronger. Furthermore, the seam created with HF can be welded in a manner that provides a uniform transition without splices between the joined materials. There is no space through which dirt, moisture or bacteria can penetrate and impair the product’s strength and durability. Also, during time and weather the stitch will deteriorate and this could be damaging to your product. Like all methods there are pros and cons with everything, some bigger than others and some smaller. It really depends on what you want to achieve and what you want to put in front of your customer(s). If you want the customer to think “wow, this is a product and will last a longtime“ then you will generally get this with a high frequency or radio frequency weld..

For more information on High Frequency Welding vs Hot Air, Gluing and Sewing talk to RH Plastics Technology Ltd