Thermography in plastics welding processes assessment

Purpose: The purpose of this paper was to describe the possibilities of thermovision technique to evaluate temperature distribution on heating tools surfaces of plastics welding machines and temperature distribution on heated surfaces of welded parts. Design/methodology/approach: Heating tools of butt fusion, socket fusion and infrared fusion machines were tested using thewrmovision camera. Interrelation was shown between temperature distribution on heating tools and welded parts surfaces. Findings: The quality of ready welds is essentially dependent on uniform heating of welded parts. Achieved results shown that thermography may be applied as a tool to quick temperature distribution evaluation on heating elements and welded parts. Research limitations/implications: In order to evaluate temperature distribution with thermovision camera complete surface of heating element must be “visible”. The maximum angle between camera axis and line perpendicular do scanned surface is 30°. Practical implications: Achieved results showed that thermography may be applied in industrial practice to test heating elements of plastics welding machines. Also welded parts may be scanned with this methodology. Originality/value: The originality of the research comprises in evaluation of relation between temperature distribution on heating elements and temperature distribution on welded parts heated with given tools.