> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://nicholsonlabs.gitbook.io/labs/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://nicholsonlabs.gitbook.io/labs/bioplastic/experiments-with-bioplastic/heat-joining-bioplastic.md).

# Heat Joining Bioplastic

For this experiment, I decided to see if I could heat join bioplastic with two different methods: One by using the semi-heated tip of a hot glue gun (no glue was used), and the other one by using a professional impact sealer for plastic bags.

When I used the hot glue gun, I just pushed the nozzle into the bioplastic (Ag15), and hoped that both sides would melt and join, similar to how I imagine welding works. Unfortunately, this didn't quite work out, as I could easily open the "melted" joint. There were also holes between the weld spots.

Here are the images and results from the glue gun:

![](/files/PFZ8R09GwaSSvdYaGk3D)

And:

![](/files/osmg8f5brgs1wGEIIzQN)

The next part of this experiment was using equipment that is actually supposed to join plastic together. This machine is commercially available for around $50 and is called an impact sealer (I used one at a local makerspace). To use it, you simply fold the bioplastic over on itself and pop it into the machine. It then melts a fine line in the bioplastic, hopefully joining the two halves. This proved to be much more successful than the hot glue gun, but I did run into some issues. For one, the heating element became way too hot, and I think it more or less burned the bioplastic instead of melting it.

Here are some results and images from the impact sealer:

![](/files/OkIrNrjkWSDozzewE52n)

And:

![](/files/NwmQgrm7anG4qX23P32X)

And:

![](/files/HMPe86lMG7H6nLuPAGRo)

And finally:

![](/files/cjLnny83J8VvwEfFpP4O)