Ultrasonic Welding of Sisal- HDPE Composite: Effect of Welding Parameters on Lap Shear Strength Performance

Abstract

Abstract Nowadays materials are at the core of every technological advancement; the development of sustainable materials is an area of the researchers are focusing their efforts being put universal that can ensure the sustainable growth of communities as well as optimal utilization of available resources. Natural fiber-based composite materials indicate a class of materials with abundant opportunities and possess the tremendous potential to be exploited in various engineering applications such as; automobile, construction, and household goods. The commercial manufacturing processing technique, such as compression molding is used extensively to fabricate the woven mat sisal/HDPE composite specimens. Joining is the process of ensuring the assembly of simple specimens to create a complex product design. Ultrasonic welding (USW) is a solid-state fusion bonding technique that is mostly used to weld thermoplastic polymers (HDPE) through high-frequency ultrasonic vibration by generating mechanical motion along with the applied force creates frictional heat at the mating surface of the plastic components. The current experimental investigation analyzes the ultrasonic welding (USW) behavior of sisal/HDPE polymer composites. Process optimization has been achieved and identifies the best combination of parameters that can ensure excellent weld quality and higher values of joint strength. The sisal/HDPE composites have been successfully joined and the mechanical behavior of the joints has been investigated in terms of their failure load and tensile strength. The failed specimens have been analyzed for variation in their thermal behavior and degree of crystallinity. The SEM micrographs helped understand the failure mechanisms of the joints under tensile loading.