> 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:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2F0wbWuqJ6mOd4FEsslNrn%2FIMG_2310.jpeg?alt=media\&token=49117273-6b0b-4297-90fc-3d84bec486f6)

And:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2FLymLp1RP9zdj0MXHD9so%2FIMG_2309.jpeg?alt=media\&token=a19eb085-558d-448d-8f68-5d93ad479c30)

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:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2F4512cSA8MVU1l2KLIf34%2FIMG_2372.jpeg?alt=media\&token=d549ca59-fe5e-4234-90e8-1c8d2edf933f)

And:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2FFrChvXxG4bgdcvRiHvtW%2FIMG_2371.jpeg?alt=media\&token=6f7b2800-6683-4519-8443-da1b1633ee37)

And:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2FF3YWk0W37HxtjbWHKmDd%2FIMG_2375.jpeg?alt=media\&token=f8284b46-adb1-4202-9237-b346c384e72f)

And finally:

![](https://829019481-files.gitbook.io/~/files/v0/b/gitbook-x-prod.appspot.com/o/spaces%2FQKxP3dLVX23EmnpaB5PS%2Fuploads%2F9z8bROhOaHFEYpvjorer%2FIMG_2376.jpeg?alt=media\&token=8a3b099e-317c-4231-bc35-eb6ceda2d07d)