joining polycarbonate–manufacturing and evaluation of transparent joints using an innovative objective test method

Large-scale laminated safety glass is increasingly used in the public and private sector for example museums, jewelers or villas. Special safety is provided by these glasses in layered combination with polycarbonate sheets. Due to the low weight and its high tensile elongation comparing glass of the same thickness, highly transparent polycarbonate is suitable for safety-relevant components. Because of the dimensional limitation in the extrusion process, joining polycarbonate compounds are necessary for large-area joints of this laminated safety glass. According to the present state of the art, a transparent weld joint of polycarbonate is not possible. Within the scope of the project, polycarbonate joints were produced by infrared welding. The transparency of the joints was realized by varying the process parameters, for example the heating time. Additionally, the present study focusses on a new innovative light intensity measurement, because conventional optical test methods can only subjectively assess t...