The updated second edition of this comprehensive handbook emphasizes the relationships among the assembly methods, the materials, and the plastics manufacturing processes, thus enabling the reader to identify the best design and assembly method for a given application.

The book describes the fifteen principal fastening and joining methods used to assemble plastics today, with their respective advantages and disadvantages. Assembly method limitations for a given material and/or a given molding process are discussed in depth. Joining of Plastics, 2nd Ed. is very much a `how-to' book, offering a wealth of hard-to-find, detailed information.

From the Preface: “...[I]t is more complicated to design with plastics than with metals because the physical properties of plastics are significantly affected by changes in temperature and chemical environment within the normal range of usage. Furthermore, the available joining methods vary with the material and with the processing method used to create the parts...In Chapter 1...the reader can scan the various joining methods and determine which ones are most likely solutions for the problem at hand. He or she can then go on to read only those chapters. To further this objective, each of the assembly chapters begins with a list of the advantages and disadvantages of that particular assembly method. The author hopes this effort results in quick and appropriate joining solutions for his readers.”

Target Audience: Design, mechanical, process, and plastics engineers; end-users of assembled plastic parts; and students of these fields.

Table of Contents:

Rapid Guidelines for Joining of Plastics and Efficient Use of This Handbook

Designing for Efficient Assembly

Cost Reduction in Assembly

Design for Disassembly and Recycling

Assembly Method Selection by Material

Assembly Method Selection by Process

Adhesive and Solvent Joining

Fasteners and Inserts

Hinges

Hot Plate/Hot Die/Fusion and Hot Wire/Resistance Welding

Hot Gas Welding

Induction/Electromagnetic Welding

Insert and Multipart Molding

Press Fits/Force Fits/Interference Fits/Shrink Fits

Snap Fits

Spin Welding

Staking/Swaging/Peening/Cold Heading/Cold Forming

Threads: Tapped and Molded-in

Ultrasonic Welding

Vibration Welding

Welding with Lasers

References

Index