Bonding of polyethylene film. How to glue film for greenhouses

12.06.2019

In construction, polyethylene film is mainly used as a waterproofing or heat insulator, when it comes to film greenhouses. It has polyethylene and certain soundproofing properties, but not enough to be used as an independent soundproofing.

To glue polyethylene, you must first purchase the kind of glue that is used for gluing plastic.

Is it possible to glue polyethylene?

When installing waterproofing or a greenhouse, it is often necessary to glue several pieces of polyethylene together to get a film right size. But how to glue a plastic film, and is it possible to do this at home?

The question is not as simple as it seems at first. It is also known from the school chemistry course: the higher the polarity of the polymer material, the better it lends itself to gluing. The polyethylene molecule, written with chemical symbols, is very similar to a long chain consisting of identical units - CH2-. Such uniformity suggests that the electric charges inside the polyethylene molecule are distributed evenly, i.e. it is non-polar. Therefore, polyethylene sticks together very poorly.

Welding of a polymer film: a - using an electric soldering iron; b - using a run-in for an electric iron; c - open flame.

Very common for bonding polymer materials adhesive mixtures are used, which are prepared from the same materials (or similar ones), dissolved in a suitable solvent. But this will not work with polyethylene - it practically does not dissolve in organic solvents.

Some polymers can be glued simply because they have a rough surface. In this case adhesive solution fills in irregularities and, solidifying, clings to them, tightly gluing pieces of material. But with polyethylene, this will not work, because it has an ideal smooth surface.

Therefore, if we talk specifically about the gluing process, then gluing a plastic film at home is almost impossible. Yes, and in industrial it has never been glued until now.

But although pieces of polyethylene cannot be glued together, they can be welded, or, more precisely, soldered, which has been successfully done in industry for many years, having developed many methods for such welding. But of this many ways, there are only two that can be applied at home.

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Hot welding of polyethylene

Welding the film with an electric soldering iron: a - type of seam; b - device of an electric soldering iron for welding a film.

The most convenient way to do this operation is with a metal roller with a heating device inside. But to make such a device at home, you need to have a fairly high qualification of an electrician.

Therefore, people's ingenuity found a completely satisfactory replacement for such a tool - an ordinary iron. Because different grades of polyethylene film melt when different temperatures, then no specific recommendations on the temperature regime of welding can be given.

The temperature of the heating iron for welding will have to be determined by trial and error. If the temperature of the iron is insufficient, then the film will not boil, but if the iron is heated too much, the seam will turn out to be “overcooked”, weak, and the film on the sides of the seam will be easily torn. The only thing that can be advised initially is that the iron should not be too hot.

The soldering technology itself is very simple. To make the seam neat and even, soldering is best done on a flat surface. wooden surface. The edges of the film must be laid on this surface with a slight overlap on each other (0.5-1 cm). On this overlap, you need to draw a spout or edge of a heated iron. The passage should be no more than a second in one place, otherwise you will burn the film.

PVC film can be recognized by the yellowish tint of the edge of the roll.

But with this method of soldering, there is one very important negative point: the heated plastic film very often sticks to the iron. To prevent this from happening, it is better to cover the polyethylene seam before soldering thin sheet cellophane, and then go over it with an iron.

The strength of the solder can be checked by simply pulling the soldered pieces in different directions. If the seam diverges, it means that the soldering quality is unsatisfactory, and you need to repeat everything from the very beginning. Some craftsmen perform this soldering not with an iron, but with a hot knife blade, claiming that it is more convenient for them. But this is a matter of taste.

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Open flame welding of polyethylene

To reconcile polyethylene in this way, you will need:

metal or ceramic bars;
welding tool (this may be gas-burner, blowtorch, spirit lamp, and in the absence of these, you can use a torch or even ordinary matches).

Electrical circuit diagram connecting the "ironing" to the network: 1 - constant wire resistor; 2 - metal case; 3 - sting-horse; 4 - textolite handle; 5 - stand.

The edges of the films to be welded must be fixed with metal or ceramic bars (wooden ones are not suitable for this purpose). It is necessary to fix it in such a way that a narrow strip of film (3-5 mm, no more) is visible from under them at the welding point. The bars are needed not only to fix the film, but mainly in order to quickly remove heat from the films being welded, otherwise they will burn out entirely instead of melting.

Next, you need to hold the flame along the remaining open edge. The speed of the flame will also have to be selected empirically, especially since it will be different not only for each brand of polyethylene, but also for each tool too. If the operation is performed correctly, then upon its completion a dense roller is formed, firmly connecting the two edges of the plastic film.

As an alternative to welding, when constructing greenhouses and greenhouses, two pieces of polyethylene film can be sewn together. To do this, two pieces of film are overlapped on top of each other. The overlap should be 2-2.5 cm. Then a regular medical patch is glued to the overlap on both sides. It will not hold well, but it's not scary, the main thing is that the strips of the patch lie exactly at the place of overlap one above the other.

Then, over the overlap, two seams are made with large stitches. In this case, the pieces of the film are fastened with the help of stitched threads, and the patch, having a stronger material structure, prevents the threads from tearing the polyethylene. However, this method is not suitable for waterproofing, since the seams will let moisture through.

It should be noted that both welding methods are suitable only if you need to combine polyethylene with polyethylene.

If it becomes necessary to glue the film to some other material, then you will have to look for a transparent film from another material that sticks better, and for which there are special adhesives on sale. Alternatively, it may be a PVC film.

Connect the plastic film in the ways described or look for something new, it's up to you. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment, because if something cannot be done today, this does not mean at all that it cannot be done tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.

When choosing a cover for a greenhouse or greenhouse, gardeners and gardeners pay attention not only to the cost of this material, but also to its quality, as well as the degree of reliability and practicality. Very expensive and most durable options are not always available due to some circumstances. It is for this reason that the well-known polyethylene film has been especially popular and in demand for many years. Such oilcloth for coating allows not only to qualitatively protect the greenhouse or greenhouse structure, but also helps to save family budget. It should be taken into account that, depending on the size of the greenhouse, it may be necessary to weld such a film, for which a special apparatus can be used.

The use of polyethylene for greenhouses

PVC-based film is a very versatile material that was originally invented as a packaging material. However, the versatility of polyethylene made it possible to use it much more widely, and today such a modern oilcloth is used in many areas, including agriculture. PVC materials made it possible to replace heavy, fragile and expensive glass when covering the greenhouse in the summer.

Plain film based on polyethylene. The most popular oilcloth for gardeners and greenhouses. Differs in the lowest cost, and the form in the form of a sleeve promotes increase in the covered area twice. Easily assembled by hand. The standard service life is one year.

Reinforced version of PVC materials. Represented by a plastic or fiberglass mesh soldered to sheet material. Standard sizes the cells of such polyethylene range from 0.8 x 0.8 to 1.2 x 1.2 centimeters. Such a PVC material is characterized by a heterogeneous structure and thickness, and when choosing, you should pay attention to the density parameters.

PVC films. They are serious competition with the standard polyethylene film. PVC film has excellent physical and chemical properties, which allows the coating to transmit the light spectrum necessary for the growth and development of greenhouse crops. In addition, PVC materials are more resistant to low temperatures, and the service life is at least five years.

Other types of films for the greenhouse. This category includes copolymer, polyamide and air bubble films. Manufacturers position options such as frost-resistant and do not require dismantling on winter period. However, the high price makes it not very popular for covering greenhouses with Russian gardeners.

Polyethylene welding

Depending on the material and scope of work, there are the following types of welding of polyethylene sheets:

contact welding;
extrusion welding;
hot welding.

Polyethylene can be easily glued with your own hands. For this purpose, you can use a special welding tool in the form of a hand-held hair dryer for welding polymeric materials, as well as ordinary household appliances. Welding of the film web can be performed in several ways.

Lay two film sheets on top of each other, and cover the overlap with a fluoroplastic film. Thoroughly heat the junction with the edge of a household iron, soldering iron or a special roller heated to 240 ° C.
Two film sheets superimposed on each other are clamped between two metal strips with a slight release of material, which is melted over the flame of a conventional spirit lamp or using a blowtorch.
Welding of polyethylene film with a special building dryer with a set of nozzles. Such an apparatus quickly enough allows you to combine several film panels with your own hands. Most often, a device in the form of a hair dryer is required to perform welding of a film with a low density.

If there is a need to weld the film for the greenhouse in large volumes, then you can use a special apparatus that allows you to make an almost imperceptible welding seam.

Machine for welding polyethylene material

It is very convenient to use a special welding machine to connect film sheets, and welding can be performed as soon as possible. The device that performs welding of greenhouse film is characterized by a rather simple principle of operation. A standard motor through a gearbox makes two wheels move. With the help of a special tripod, a wedge heated to certain temperature indicators is inserted between the film sheets.

The heating temperature of the wedge is controlled by a special thermostat. In addition, the speed of polyethylene advancement is also subject to regulation. The factory-made welding machine must comply with the safety requirements for operation.

The result of welding with such an apparatus is the formation of a double seam with a strength of at least eighty percent. Welding takes place in automatic mode, and manual actions are necessary solely to change the temperature regime of the wedge and the speed of the film web.

Most often, such a device is used in the industrial sector, but it is possible to use it for personal purposes. The manual type of such an apparatus is a kind of industrial hair dryer, but it has less weight.

The device can also be used to work with other types of plastics, which simple means gluing is quite problematic.

Other bonding methods

Glue greenhouse polyethylene can be in other ways.

The use of xylene and trichlorethylene heated to a temperature of seventy degrees, as well as through 80% concentration of acetic acid heated to thirty degrees.
The use of certain types of glue. The best option is to use BF-two or BF-four glue. The surfaces to be bonded must be pre-treated with a solution of chromic anhydride with a concentration of 25%.
It is advisable to glue the polyamide film with PK-5 glue, and the resulting junction should be ironed with an iron heated to fifty degrees.
Use of a special super-glue designed for gluing polyethylene materials. Such adhesives appeared on Russian market relatively recently, but many gardeners and gardeners have already appreciated the ease of use. The glue is completely odorless, and the strength of the resulting joint is quite sufficient for the use of such material as a coating for greenhouse structures.

Of course, the presence of a personal welding machine in the arsenal of any gardener with greenhouse or greenhouse structures is justified and can significantly save time and effort on gluing films based on polyethylene.

Russian manufacturers produce several special devices that allow you to weld polyethylene at home. The most inexpensive and sufficiently high-quality device for such work is the apparatus of the PP-40 series. In terms of external indicators, such equipment resembles a traditional soldering iron with a slightly modernized tip.

How to glue a film for a greenhouse (video)

The use of such a convenient and modern device allows you to easily and quickly produce high-quality welding work on polyethylene films, regardless of the degree of complexity of the connecting circuit.

In order not to lose the material, be sure to save it to your social network Vkontakte, Odnoklassniki, Facebook by simply clicking on the button below.

Film welding is one of the working operations that may sometimes be necessary. For many types of work, pieces of polyethylene film must be tightly connected to each other. Most often, this is necessary for the construction of a greenhouse, greenhouse, installation of vapor barrier during construction.

For some activities, it is necessary to provide the material with a tight connection in order to obtain any product. When gluing polyethylene using adhesive tape or adhesives, high-quality sealed joints will not work, therefore, if necessary, ensure strong connection use welding.

There are many ways to weld polyethylene film. The operation itself is a bonding of layers of material by heating, creating a temperature convenient for melting. When the layers are compressed, a weld is formed.

Welding of polyethylene occurs as follows: When heated, the layers change their structure, connect at the molecular level, and after cooling, a strong seam is formed.

To glue a polyethylene film, the layers should be well cleaned - with any contamination, the strength characteristics are much reduced.

Alien impurities pass into the melted mass, which violate the molecular structure in the seams.

For a high-quality connection with high strength, the following conditions must be met:

when welding the film, its pieces must be homogeneous, belonging to the same batch;
surfaces must be clean;
temperature regime when working, choose correctly - with insufficient heating, the strength deteriorates, with excessive heating, the joint and the pre-seam section are deformed;
when heated, sufficient compression should be ensured.

To connect pvc film quality, you can not re-weld the edges of the material. If it is necessary to perform such an operation, first cut off the damaged edges.

Both in the implementation of construction operations and for domestic needs, the following connection methods can be used:

welding with a soldering iron equipped with special nozzles - in this case, it acts as homemade apparatus for welding;
docking when heated, melting the film with an iron;
desired temperature layers is achieved using a burner;
industrial equipment is used to heat the seam.

You can try to warm the film with a hairdryer, then tightly connect the surfaces intended for gluing to each other, but it is better to put it under a press.

Film welding with a soldering iron

How to glue plastic film with a soldering iron? This method can be safely attributed to the most common - the tool is easily accessible, allows you to get a good result, and with a little refinement of the soldering iron, the effect can be improved.

It should be noted that without refinement it will not always be possible to make a tight connection - the joints can be uneven, the material spreads.

So you can glue the film for the greenhouse or make a canvas for other needs. Only with very small amounts of work can we recommend using a PVC connection with a soldering iron. After a little refinement, it turns into a convenient and easy-to-use tool.

Iron as a welding heater

How to glue a film using an iron - the simplest household appliance that is in every home? Everything is very simple - the job is to melt the polyethylene and create joints using a heated iron sole.

An impromptu iron welding machine allows you to connect large sections of the film. In this case, the seams can be made with a certain width. All modern irons have a thermostat that allows you to adjust the heating temperature.

Before gluing the film, provide a comfortable place to work - a wooden smooth surface is best.
The film is laid with an overlap, upper layer cover with fluoroplastic or paper, press the sole of the iron and lead along the welding line.
Empirically, the pressing speed, force are determined, the temperature is selected.

Professional welding tools

To connect the film at home, you can make a variety of tools with your own hands, but they are only suitable for performing small-scale work. If you need large-scale production - commercial activity, creating a greenhouse or greenhouses - the use of these devices has the greatest effect. No glue has the same ability.

The welding process is faster, professional devices allow you to customize desired parameters pressure, welding seam advance rate, temperature.

Most professional devices have tension and setting roller elements that pull the film at an optimal speed, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of the seam.

How to keep seedlings in an unheated greenhouse during spring frosts

You have an unheated greenhouse, and here, as always, inopportunely unexpected spring frosts, what to do!? And the way out is very simple - take a few bricks, and the more porous they are, the better. Soak them well flammable liquid(kerosene, diesel fuel, etc.), place it on a fireproof stand (metal or concrete) near the greenhouse and light it. To supply heat, you can use a wide tin pipe, fixing it at an angle to the top of the greenhouse, to make thermal curtain from cold air. Such a heater may well function throughout the cold night.

You can also save in a greenhouse during spring frosts with the help of another simple heater. To do this, at a distance of 3-4 m from the greenhouse, you need to kindle a small fire. Then take metal pipe of the appropriate length and put one end into a smoldering fire, and bring the other into the greenhouse at a slight angle to ensure traction. At the other end of the greenhouse, you need to make an exhaust hole.

How to connect the film panels

The film is welded with a soldering iron or iron, glued with appropriate adhesives or simply sewn together with threads. For welding, the edges of the two panels of the film are laid on top of each other and slowly passed through the fluoroplastic film at the welding site with the side edge of a hot iron or the tip of a well-heated soldering iron. If you do not have fluoroplastic tape, you can use two narrow, even strips of metal. To weld the film panel, you need to clamp it between these strips and melt the edges protruding by about 1 cm with a spirit lamp or a blowtorch.

A polyethylene film can also be simply glued with Moment glue, having previously degreased the surfaces to be glued with some solvent (acetone or a solution of chromic anhydride). For polyamide film, PK-5 glue can be used. After gluing, the seam must be ironed with an iron heated to 50-60 °.

The film can also be sewn with threads through a strip of thick paper to give the seam strength. Minor damage to the film can simply be sealed with tape.

How to give a second life to film

You should not throw away the old film removed from the greenhouse, which seems to be already unusable for anything. After all, it can also be used for other than its intended purpose, for example, along the perimeter of the beds in your greenhouse, you can dig a groove about a depth of about a spade bayonet (20-25 cm) and the same width with one vertical wall. Lay a strip of old film of this width along this wall and fill the groove with earth along with the film. The result is an excellent protective barrier against rhizomatous pests and weeds. This barrier will serve you for many years, because under a layer of earth the film is protected from the rays of the sun that destroy it. The film for this, of course, must be used without damage and holes, if necessary, you can lay it in two layers. Lay the film strips in an overlap of 15-20 cm, the upper edge of the film strips should be at the level of the soil surface.

Or this option: many gardeners use boards to form the edges of the beds. But after all, the boards in wet ground quickly begin to rot and after a couple of years they become completely unusable, actually turning into humus. But if you carefully wrap these sideboards with old film, they will last you for many more years. By the way, the stakes with which these boards are fixed can also be wrapped with an old film, its ends must be carefully bent and carefully hammered into the soil. At the bottom, the bent film will be held by the earth, and from above it can be wrapped with tape. Thus, such a "waterproof" design of the borders for the beds will serve you for many years.

In the next article we will tell you how to take care of the greenhouse.

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For some activities, it is necessary to provide the material with a tight connection in order to obtain any product. When gluing polyethylene using adhesive tape or adhesives, high-quality sealed joints will not be obtained, therefore, if it is necessary to ensure a strong connection, welding is used.

Welding of polyethylene occurs as follows: When heated, the layers change their structure, connect at the molecular level, and after cooling, a strong seam is formed.

To glue a polyethylene film, the layers should be well cleaned - with any contamination, the strength characteristics are much reduced.

Alien impurities pass into the melted mass, which violate the molecular structure in the seams.

For a high-quality connection with high strength, the following conditions must be met:

when welding the film, its pieces must be homogeneous, belonging to the same batch;
surfaces must be clean;
select the temperature regime during operation correctly - with insufficient heating, the strength deteriorates, with excessive heating, the joint and the pre-seam section are deformed;
when heated, sufficient compression should be ensured.

To connect the PVC film qualitatively, it is impossible to re-weld the edges of the material. If it is necessary to perform such an operation, first cut off the damaged edges.

Both in the implementation of construction operations and for domestic needs, the following connection methods can be used:

welding with a soldering iron equipped with special nozzles - at the same time, it acts as a home-made apparatus for welding;
docking when heated, melting the film with an iron;
the desired temperature of the layers is achieved using a burner;
industrial equipment is used to heat the seam.

You can try to warm the film with a hairdryer, then tightly connect the surfaces intended for gluing to each other, but it is better to put it under a press.

Film welding with a soldering iron

It should be noted that without refinement it will not always be possible to make a tight connection - the joints can be uneven, the material spreads.

Iron as a welding heater

How to glue a film using an iron - the simplest household appliance that is in every home? Everything is very simple - the job is to melt the polyethylene and create joints using a heated iron sole.

Before gluing the film, provide a comfortable place to work - a wooden smooth surface is best.
The film is overlapped, the top layer is covered with fluoroplastic or paper, the sole of the iron is pressed and led along the welding line.
Empirically, the pressing speed, force are determined, the temperature is selected.

Professional welding tools

To connect the film at home, you can make a variety of tools with your own hands, but they are only suitable for performing small-scale work. When large-scale production is required - commercial activities, the creation of a greenhouse or greenhouses - the use of these devices has the greatest effect. No glue has the same ability.

The welding process is faster, professional devices allow you to set the desired pressure parameters, the speed of advancement along the weld, and the temperature.

Most professional devices have tension and setting roller elements that pull the film at an optimal speed, which has a beneficial effect on the quality of the seam.