Falling under the larger category of plastic welding, butt fusion process involves uses a pair of distinct plastic components; usually either two tubes or a tube and a covering. In the past, this method has been mainly applied to polyethylene, but polypropylene has recently grown exponentially. Nonetheless, the process typically includes most thermoplastic tubes.
At its essence, heat is applied by an electrical heating plate simultaneously to the ends of both parts before melting occurs. Then a heater plate is removed and stress is exerted over a definite period of time, resulting in what is known as "welded beads." When properly constructed, the joint has a generic appearance commonly used for safety evaluations or audits. While the particulars of temperature, stress and time vary with the polymeric material, there is no difference in the fundamentals.
In larger tubing, a butt fusion welding system is used to precisely monitor many additional factors such as ovality and orientation, the squareness of the surface, heat soak time, and heat plate temperature, as a few examples.
Equally important is to make sure that your materials and work surfaces are free of pollutants and that all critical requirements are followed correctly to solidify a joint of high quality. If properly designed and maintained equipment is used by a trained and certified joiner, all these aspects are combined regularly. It will be as powerful and ductile as the original pipe once a proper welded joint operation has been performed correctly.
McElroy Parts provides technically advanced, dependable, sturdy, and efficient pipe fusion equipment solutions. Our versatile tools are designed to be used for just about any project and we have a team of professionals thoroughly trained in working with McElroy parts and equipment, including McElroy Certified Instructors and McElroy Certified Master Mechanics. For more information on McElroy fusion machine parts please fill out the form on our McElroy Parts Finder page.