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Selecting thermoplastics for welded, under-the-hood, automotive parts strongly depends on the plastic material properties, part design, as well as the molding and joining / welding technology conditions. Laser transmission welding (LTW) requires preferential deposition of energy and subsequent melting and diffusion of the material in the interfacial / weld-plane zone. This is optimized when the laser beam is transmitted through the thermoplastic transparent part and absorbed by the adjoining part to be welded. Energy deposition can be controlled to some extent by adjusting laser power, choice of beam focussing optics, sweep rate, etc. The thermoplastic material properties and composition (reinforcements, fillers, additives, pigments, etc.) may have the greater influence and need to be characterized for optimum material selection for the transmission welding application.