Vibration welding of nano‐TiO2 filled polypropylene

Polypropylene (PP)-based nanocomposites compounded by a twin-screw extruder and injection molded into plates those were then joined by linear vibration welding. The mechanical performances of the welds and bulk materials were examined. While the incorporation of rigid particles slightly improves the impact strength of the bulk PP, the mechanical properties of the welds decrease with increasing nanoparticle contents. The best weld quality is obtained at low weld pressure without nanoparticles. The fracture surfaces and microstructure of the welds showed that the reduced weld quality is caused by the orientation of nanofillers parallel to the weld plane, the destruction of interphase between fillers and matrix, and the reduction of molten-film thickness by incorporation of nanoparticles. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 55:243–250, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers