Polyethylene and other types of film are the most affordable coating for greenhouses. As a material - it transmits sunlight well, protects plants from sudden changes in temperature in the spring and is inexpensive, much less than glass or polycarbonate. The film is popular among small commercial and home greenhouses. With proper installation, polyethylene can last several years. Read more about how to solder or glue material if necessary.

Gluing (welding) of the film at home

The greenhouse film is a thermoplastic polymer with a variable crystalline structure and an extremely wide range of applications. Thin varieties can be covered with temporary greenhouses, and a denser one can be mounted on stationary greenhouses.

Polyethylene - This is the most popular plastic material in the world. It is an excellent heat insulator, does not pass moisture, and is resistant to chemically active substances. A strong connection of the sheets may be needed during the installation of the greenhouse, and also subsequently if the film is damaged during bad weather. Among the options for its connection: gluing, welding and even stitching with threads.

Chemical and physical characteristics of materials

Polyethylene film Is a synthetic material made from polyethylene granules. Among the many types of this film, the usual roll, reinforced, hydrophilic, foamed, light stabilized and other types.It can be transparent, white or any other. The material is painted at the production stage.

Service life depends on density and ranges from 2 to 5 years. The density of the material is from 40 to 200 microns.

Important! If the greenhouse is made of pieces of polyethylene, then all joints should be soldered or glued together. This will help to avoid damage during strong winds.

Key properties of a plastic film:

The main useful property of thermoplastics is that they can be heated to the melting temperature, cooled and reheated without a significant change in properties. Instead of burning, they liquefy, making it easy to reuse them. But keep in mind that the film is not too durable. Material ages when exposed to sunlight and UV rays.

Did you know? If the actual composition of the thermoplastic polymer of which the film is made is unknown, then epoxy glue (epoxy) will be the best choice for bonding, since it will last longer than the sheets themselves.

A film made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) refers to polymers that are made on the basis of elements derived from oil (ethylene) and chlorine obtained from rock salt. It is less commonly used for greenhouses, but also has good characteristics. 1 sq. m of material is able to withstand up to 100 liters of water above itself. Rupture of such material occurs less frequently, but it is still possible. Main characteristics: low density (0.25 kg / sq. m), high strength, good sound absorption, lack of combustibility and a wide temperature range at which it can be used.

Properties of PVC film:

Reinforced greenhouse film consists of several layers. In fact, these are 2 sheets of polyethylene, which were reinforced - put on a metallized frame. Different types of material differ in cell size, material and thickness of the carcass filaments. It can be polyethylene, lavsan, polypropylene, fiberglass. It is believed that material with a mesh size of 15 × 15 mm will be the best for the greenhouse. As with any film, it can cause punctures and damage. But thanks to the frame, they will be limited by the size of the cell.

Reinforced Film Properties:

The reinforced film is distinguished by a longer service life, as well as a high light transmission. Due to the structural features, it has a very high strength. The disadvantage of the material is that due to the roughness, dust can accumulate on it, condensate can accumulate, which leads to the appearance of mold, therefore the film is periodically washed.

Features of welding films for different types

Polyethylene melts at high temperature, which means that you can connect the gap in the greenhouse film in any way in which the material is heated. To make the seam durable, you need to clean the material from contaminants. Also remove all stickers, paint, marks with a marker. Then degrease the joint and heat to + 130 ° C. The molten material will weld firmly, forming a tight seam.Do not weld the same edge twice. Correctly cut the previous seam, clean the joint and weld again.

Welding methods

Welding of polymers at high temperature is carried out:

• industrial appliances;
• a soldering iron;
• an iron;
• open flame.

Only uniform materials are welded. Two different types of material - stick together. It is also convenient to glue rough surfaces such as reinforced film. The adhesive fills the bumps, increasing the strength of the seam.

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A household soldering iron can be used if it is modified by creating a special nozzle. Otherwise, the joint will turn out to be rough and uneven. It is very convenient to work if the nozzle moves like a “roller”. Also, instead of the tip, you can install an aluminum bar with a touch area of ​​about 2 mm. Copper rod welding with the same cross section is allowed.

Welding Algorithm:

1. Secure the tip to the device with a screw.
2. Degrease the surface to be bonded. Connect the sheets.
3. Swipe the heated soldering iron over the joint.

Metal: copper or aluminum. The plate must be placed in relation to the place of welding at an angle of 35–45 °.

Iron is an equally popular device for gluing polyethylene. The connection of the sheets is performed by the soleplate.

Did you know? During heating, the layers are liquefied and connected at the level of molecules, forming a strong connection. If you leave the place of the future seam dirty, then the dirt will transfer to the molecular structure, which will reduce the strength of the seam.

Iron Welding Algorithm:

1. Determine the correct sole temperature using practical tests.
2. Lay sheets on top of each other.
3. To prevent the film from sticking to the iron, put a sheet of paper on it and set the heating of the device to the second heating position - cotton with a temperature not lower than + 120 ° С.
4. Slide the appliance over the sheet so that the film under it begins to melt.
5. The paper should not stick to it, but if this happens, just wet it with a damp cloth and remove after a few minutes.
6. Check the connection by pulling the pieces to the sides. The seam should not diverge.

A professional device for welding polyethylene consists of a lower part with a heating element, on which the material for gluing is laid, and an upper clamping element, which is lowered onto the heating element to fix the material. In some devices, the automatic supply of thermoplastic to the bonding place is implemented. A professional device allows you to adjust the feed rate, temperature and pressure. Such welding is much faster.

Open flame

Open flame - This is a gas burner, blowtorch, and even matches or a candle are common. Since you will move the flame source along the seam, you need to tightly fix the film. To do this, use metal staples or ceramic bars.

Open flame welding algorithm:

1. The polymer sheets are degreased.
2. Bars fix the material. The place of welding should protrude beyond their edge by 3-5 mm.
3. A flame source leads along this protruding edge.
4. The film melts and solders. In the place of adhesion, a seam is formed in the form of a dense roller.

Glue

In the process of gluing polyethylene molecules must be attracted to each other. After the mass has hardened, they will hold firmly. But polyethylene is very resistant, and its molecules interact poorly with other materials. For gluing, you need to choose the glue, which indicates that it can be used for thermoplastic polymers (materials with poor adhesion). A special additive in the composition of such an adhesive forms a gap between the sheets to be glued. This creates an important and necessary component for stable gluing. The rest of the space is filled with glue. Before applying it, the surfaces are degreased and dried. Then glue is applied, surfaces are docked and left to dry for 4–24 hours at a temperature of +15 to + 70 ° С.

Bonding film in the greenhouse

The methods for gluing the film in the greenhouse will be the same as for individual sheets:

1. The main way: superposition of elements on each other. Then they are clamped, covered with paper and at the junction lead a blowtorch or other source of open flame.
2. Less reliable way - gluing. The processed material is degreased, fixed, glued. In this form, it should be until the adhesive layer completely hardens.
3. If you need to close the gap in the greenhouse, which is already used, then use the stitching thread. During operation, the film becomes contaminated with dust, deforms under the rays of the sun, so the weld will be weak due to contamination, and the glue may crack at a low temperature. Seal the gap with adhesive tape and intercept it with threads along the length of the gap.

If possible, use welding as the most reliable way to solder. With the correct melting point (not lower than 120 ° C), the seam will be as reliable as possible. If this is not possible, then use special glue. Also note that the denser the film, the less likely it is to accidentally rupture during use.