Laser transmission welding of polymers - A review on welding parameters, quality attributes, process monitoring, and applications

Laser transmission welding (LTW) is nowadays a well-received polymer joining process. New applications are emerging more and more due to the unique advantages of LTW over conventional joining processes. This paper provides a comprehensive review on various aspects of LTW techniques through a detailed survey of several scholarly publications, industrial studies, scientific reports, etc. This review focuses primarily on five major aspects of LTW, which are (a) welding parameters and their effects, (b) weld quality attributes, (c) process monitoring techniques, (d) material combinations, and (e) industrial applications. After an introduction to the process, the welding parameters, and how they influence the LTW process are described first. This is followed by a description of the quality attributes of LTW, including weld strength, weld pool dimensions, part gap-bridging ability, meltdown, and weld morphology. Several process monitoring techniques applied to LTW are then discussed for pre-, post-, and real-time monitoring of the process. Subsequently, material combinations that are successfully welded using LTW are described, including welding of polymer to polymer, metal, ceramic, glass, wood, etc. Finally, several applications of LTW in different industrial sectors are identified, and the results of the review are concluded.

Automated summary

This paper comprehensively reviews the five major aspects of Laser Transmission Welding (LTW) technology, including welding parameters, weld quality attributes, process monitoring techniques, material combinations, and industrial applications. Through a detailed survey of several scholarly publications, industrial studies, and scientific reports, the development and application of LTW technology are discussed.