Plasma Knowledge Base

Bonding Polyethylene

Written by George Osenga | Aug 17, 2021 6:59:21 PM
Polyethylene is one of the most common plastics produced. It is used in the fabrication of grocery bags, plastic films, and plastic bottles. While extremely useful,  bonding polyethylene to other surfaces or materials can be a challenge. Since polyethylene is non-polar,  bonding polyethylene using adhesives and solvents is nearly impossible because it is resistant.  Bonding polyethylene can be accomplished by using several other methods though, such as hot gas welding, fastening, laser welding, ultrasonic welding and heat fusion.

Using Plasma for Bonding Polyethylene

When those methods do not suffice when trying to  bond polyethylene, Thierry systems have the ability to  plasma treat polyethylene surfaces to make them more suitable for paints and adhesives to adhere to. When a polyethylene surface undergoes plasma activation, the normally inert surface becomes more capable of adhesion because the process creates radical sites and raises the  surface energy. This makes  bonding polyethylene much easier and using adhesives and paint on polyethylene feasible.

To learn more about the use of plasma in manufacturing, please read our eBook titled "Manufacturer’s Surface Activation Guide for Improved Adhesion."