Panasonic Corporation, a global leader in the development of diverse electronics technologies, said it will start mass production of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) molding compounds for laser welding from next month.

The move will help contribute to the enhancement of long-term reliability and the flexibility of design of automotive switches and sensors, said the statement from the Japanese group.

Currently, processing methods including sealing with packings and bolts, bonding with adhesive agents, as well as ultrasonic welding, are used for the production of automotive sensors.

Instead of such processing methods, laser welding has recently attracted the industry’s attention as its high welding strength can shorten the bonding time and increase productivity, it stated.

However, plastic molding compounds generally used for laser welding have had low laser transmittance, leading to problems with welding strength and waterproof properties said a company spokesman.

"In order to solve these problems, we have commercialized the PBT molding compounds with the industry’s highest laser transmittance; they excel in their welding strength and waterproof properties," he stated.

"With these compounds, it is possible to use laser welding instead of the current processing methods, and therefore long-term reliability and the flexibility of design can be enhanced when they are applied to automotive components," he added.-TradeArabia News Service