Patent ID: 7238246
Filing Date: 2007-07-03
Classification: B01L,B29C,B29L,B81C,C08J,G01N

Abstract:
1. Process for flush connection of two bodies wherein at least one body consists of a plastic material, and at least one body is provided with a microstructure having a cavity depth of from 2 μm to 1000 μm and a cavity width of from 2 μm to 500 μm and an aspect ratio of from 0.05:1 to 100:1, comprising: preparing a gas comprising a carrier gas and a vapor of a liquid plastic swelling agent, suitable for swelling the plastic material, wherein the proportion of the swelling agent vapor is from 1×10 exposing a connection surface of the at least one plastic body to the gas to partially swell a layer close to the connection surface during a treatment time of from 0.5 seconds to 180 seconds, wherein the swelling agent diffuses out of the gas phase into the plastic body; maintaining the plastic body at a temperature below a glass transition temperature of the plastic material while the plastic body is exposed to the gas; removing the plastic body from the gas; pressing the plastic body having the swelled layer to the other body to weld the two bodies to one another at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the plastic material; and conditioning the welded bodies at a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the plastic material.