How to Weld PFA

Rotationally-molded toys are typically produced with PFA plastics.

Plastic welding Perfluoroalkoxy (PFA) is a process similar to welding polypropylene. Like many plastic welding processes, you don't use a tool that directly touches the material being welded, but rather one that heats the part being welded with a tool, such as a heat gun. Industrial applications for welding PFA are predominantly in rotomolding and injection molding, though the process can be utilized at home for craft projects and arts that involve joining PFA plastics.

Things You'll Need

• Forced hot air welder
• PFA welding rod
• Work clamps

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Instructions

1. Clamp the work pieces together in the way they are to be welded, then place them on a solid work surface you can weld on without having to move or shift the PFA parts around.

2. Feed the PFA welding rod into the forced hot air plastic welder. The hole into which the filler rod is inserted is located at the tip of the welder and will be the same size as the welding rod.

3. Turn on the welder and allow it to heat up. Position the welding tip at a 45-degree angle to the workpieces, then feed the welding rod into the welder so it extrudes directly onto the joint between the two parts being joined.

4. Draw the welder backward along the length of the weld seam, depositing the molten PFA welding rod as you go. Once the part is fully welded, allow the plastic to cool completely before moving the work pieces. This may take between 10 and 15 minutes, depending on the surrounding air temperature.

5. Clean the PFA welding rod out of your forced air welder to prevent it from contaminating future welds you may make on other types of plastic.

Tips & Warnings

• Avoid touching the heated plastic while you are welding. The PFA can stick to your skin, causing severe burns.

References

• Entegris Fluid Handling: PFA and Polypropylene Welding Information
• "Plastics and Composites Welding Handbook"; David Grewell; 2003
• "Audel Welding Pocket Reference"; James Brumbaugh; 2007