1. Bonding

Thermosets, which cannot be welded, are generally easy to bond. The same applies to some thermoplastics (PS, PVC, PMMA), while for others bonding remains difficult (PE, PP, PA), or even virtually impossible (PTFE).

In all cases, the surface to be bonded is first activated (dipped or coated), then the parts to be bonded are assembled using a polymer solvent or a suitable adhesive. Bonding can be performed in one of three ways:

• by solvent evaporation ;

• by chemical reaction ;

• by cooling a thermofuse.

The most common adhesives are vinyl, acrylic (including cyanoacrylates), elastomer, polyurethane, epoxy and silicone.