Radio frequency sealing, also known as dielectric welding or microwave sealing, is when you have to either combine two kinds or parts of plastic into one, or properly seal off a plastic bag through plastic welding.
The process is very simple. As in a punch press, the desired plastic is placed on a platen and sealed with a sealing bar, typically made of brass, with either heat energy or, in this case, radio frequency energy.
But the question then is: what is radio frequency energy? And where can you find the best radio frequency sealing products?
How Radio Frequency Sealing Works
A microwave works on the basis that it releases radio frequencies that specifically excite water molecules in food, causing them to move and heat up. Radio frequency itself ranges from 0 to about 300,000 Hertz on the electromagnetic radiation spectrum, as per Webopedia.
It’s the same as how a radio works, however, because a radio uses a different, harmless frequency to translate information over the airwaves, it doesn’t cook anything. The same goes for cellphones. As per ShareCare, despite concerns, these levels of radiation don’t actually affect your health in any measurable way.
RF sealers do. They focus on exciting the polar molecules found within most thermoplastic resins, causing these to heat up and melt much like a microwave cooks food through water molecules.
The benefit over traditional heat energy is basic – for one, RF sealers work much faster than heat sealers do, and they consume less energy, just as a microwave takes less energy and time to heat water than a kettle.
It also cools faster, and thus is safer. Finally, RF sealers come equipped with a buffer on their lower platen to prevent the energy from seeping through the plastic, burning your product.
Finding Quality RF Sealer Providers
Radio frequency sealers aren’t exactly a dime a dozen, but there are options out there. Quality companies like Polo Custom Products differentiate themselves through a superior reputation, but ultimately, it’s up to product cost, shipping cost and the exact specifications you require.
