The effect of flame retardants on the hot-plate welding of talc-filled polypropylene

The effect of a flame retardant on the weldability of polypropylene with two different tale loadings was studied by microscopy and mechanical tests on hot-plate welded injection molded tensile test bars. Welding changes the orientation of the talc particles, which align parallel to the weld interface, and can cause voiding of the material with a consequent decrease of weld strength. Welds of the material containing a flame retardant, which melts and volatizes at the temperatures, used in welding, exhibited higher voiding and lower relative weld strengths on welding than the grade without a flame retardant. Voiding may be reduced using lower hot plate temperatures and higher welding displacements, but that results in an increase in the transverse orientation of the talc particles in the weld zone. The relative weld strength, which is affected by the composition of the material, was about 50% for the 20% talc-filled polypropylene and about 45% for the 30% talc-filled grade containing a flame retardant.