Sensor Products, headquartered in New Jersey, USA, says that routine use of Pressurex during the setup of ultrasonic welders helps ensure proper contact pressure and alignment between the welder's horn and anvil, which results in welds of greater bond strength and aids in reducing rejected product and lowering base factory cost.
Ultrasonic welding using high-frequency ultrasonic acoustic vibrations can be used to join parts made of thermoplastic composite materials. To optimise the weld and prevent defects, the horn and anvil of the welder must be precisely aligned during setup so that the horn exerts uniform pressure across the entire weld area.
Pressurex reveals the distribution and magnitude of pressure between any two contacting surfaces. When placed between the horn and the anvil of the ultrasonic bonder, the film instantaneously and permanently changes colour directly proportional to the actual pressure applied. The precise pressure magnitude (psi or kg/cm2) is then determined by comparing colour variation results to a colour correlation chart.
Pressurex is extremely thin and flexible, which enables it to conform to curved surfaces.