Thursday, April 23, 2009

Plastic Glue and Adhesive

I thought I would blog a little about plastic glue (plastic adhesives) to help sort out the mystery of using adhesives and plastics. There's really some basic element to cover first. That's whether the plastic material you want to glue or bond CAN be solvent glued.

So let's take a test and see if the plastic can be glued. There a large group of plastics that CANNOT be solvent glued. They included polyethylene, polypropylene, teflon, acetal (Delrin), and Nylon (and some other exotic plastics).
A quick test is to take a solvent like acetone (nail polish remover) or MEK (hazardous stuff) and put a little dab on the material. If it gets tacky, you can glue it. If it does nothing, you need to use mechanical fastening or adhesive tape. There is a special treatment for Teflon to allow epoxy glues to adhere (called "etched teflon").

Water jugs, plastic gas tanks, plastic water tanks (RV's) are mostly HDPE (high density polyethylene) and can only be hot air welded. They are generally white in color. They are "waxy" and slick on the surface. Your 1 gallon milk container is HDPE. The bottome of your snowboard or ski is UHMW and cannot be solvent glued. Soda bottles are made of PETG which is difficult to solvent bond.

PVC (normally gray in color) CAN be solvent glued. PVC is used in sprinkler pipes (along with ABS). And PVC comes in CLEAR - think vinyl windows, think synthetic leather and upholstery.

Here's a list of adhesives by material type to explain further about the plastics that CAN be solvent glued... keep in mind that a "water thin" solvent adhesive needs the pieces to fit together perfectly and has a short working time - whereas a "bodied" adhesive allows some gaps to be filled and has a longer working time. ALL ADHESIVES REQUIRE 24 HOURS TO CURE AND ARE STRONGER IN 48 HOURS. Some adhesives have a 20-30 minute setting time and seem strong enough to move. They are not. I always tell people to wait overnight before testing the bond. The first 24 hours usually cures to about 85% of ultimate bond strength. The next 24 hours goes to about 90% with a couple more days to full strength. Just thought you might want to know.

Repairing a Crack in Plexiglass? Click on this link - I wrote about that elsewhere in this blog. (Repairing Plexiglass acrylic sheet and Lexan Polycarbonate sheet are similar issues)

Plastic Adhesive and Glue Cross-Reference Guide (thanks to IPS for this chart)



Plexiglass Glue - Plexiglas is an acrylic based sheet - the actual solvent for Plexiglass is Acetone, but is not a good glue as it evaporates too quickly. The proper glues are either based on a Methylene Chloride solvent formula (WeldOn 3, 4, and 16) or have PMMA monomer in the mix (WeldOn 40). I have seen people mix in other chemicals such as Acetic Acid to "enhance" it. My recommendation is learn to use what's in the can as adding other chemicals that are pretty nasty, and potentially cancerous, isn't the wise course of action. When building a display case you would use Weld-On #4 - that gives you the clear bonded edges. When building a large aquarium of 3/4" thick plexiglas you would use Weld On #40. #40 requires experience as it is a 2-part adhesive and 30 minute working time. It is almost as strong as the sheet itself.

ABS Plastic Glue - ABS is a styrene based plastic - very widely used in automotive and electronics industries. Could have a textured finish or not. Test with acetone to see if it gets tacky. ABS is a high impact material but can still crack and break. There are water thin solvents and milky bodied adhesives. Since ABS is always a solid color, it's easy to work with.

PVC Vinyl Glue
- PVC could be a medium gray color or clear. It can be rigid or flexible. It could even be a foam sheet (hard or soft). Confused? Hmmm. The gray is easy. The clear is easy. But foam? Yes - sign makers use a foamed PVC sheet (called Sintra, Celtec, Komatex, etc) that is widely available and comes in white, black and a rainbow of colors. Backpackers use a soft PVC foam sheet to sleep on. Sign Banners are typically PVC based material. Convertible windows, air matresses, inflatable pool toys are mostly flexible PVC based. There are water thin and bodied glues. As in other materials, the water thin are great for matching parts. For everything else, a bodied adhesive is required.


Multipurpose Glue - I call this group of adhesives the "sticky" ones - they tend to STICK the plastics together rather than chemically solvent weld. A contact adhesive like IPS 1829 will stick 2 flat faces of materials together rather well. A "structural" adhesive like IPS WeldOn #10 is a 2 part mix - and the adhesive itself becomes structure. It's white so it's usually used behind the material where it's hidden. WeldOn #40 is also a structural adhesive and is CLEAR. It seamlessly bonds Plexiglass and is great for bonding different plastics together. #40 requires some patience learning how to mix and apply. As always, try a test part before going forward with the real deal.

Lexan Polycarbonate Glue - Polycarbonate is a bit more sensitive to solvent adhesives, so a fast drying glue like Weld On #3 is a great choice. There is a new specialty adhesive, IPS #55, that requires a special application gun. For industrial users, this baby delivers a high strength liquid that is superior to all the other glues available.


Styrene Glue - styrenes are very sensitive to solvent adhesives. Most of the styrene product that is being solvent glued is a solid color (not clear) and either is a quick shot for tight fitting parts, or you need the bodied adhesive for filling gaps (or extra working time).

Polyethylene Adhesives & Glue - The fact is that the group of olefins (polyethylene based plastics), which include LDPE, HDPE, and UHMW, are so chemical resistant that modern science has not invented a solvent glue to bond these plastics. Of course, such properties are why these plastics exist and perform their job so well. You might even note that the solvent applicators and most chemical containers are made from polyethylenes.

All is not lost - You do have some choices!

1. Mechanical fasteners - screws, nuts and bolts and the like - you may have to recess the hole or deeper countersink based on the application.

2. Pressure Sensitive Adhesive applied to 1 surface. For the thinner sheets of UHMW - called "Slick Strips" - you can peel and stick a variety of thicknesses and widths from .010" to .125" thick,

3. Contact Adhesives - IPS Weld On adhesive #1829 - it STICKS but the bond is limited as it would be with ALL solvent based contact adhesives. There are a wide variety of solvent based contact adhesives available nationwide.

4. Double Sided Tape - OK, I know you didn't want to hear this, but for some of you, laying down a few strips may do the job. There are 2 kinds of tape. Double Sided Foam Tape is a permanent adhesive good for non-smooth surfaces. "Killer Red Tape" is a thin 0.015" thick acrylic adhesive transfer tape perfect for SMOOTH surface applications. Thicker tape is available such as the line of 3M VHB tape.

5. Hot Air Welding - the way LDPE and HDPE tanks and trays are built is by hot air welding the pieces together. Similar to metal welding, but at lower temperatures, a welding rod is melted into the sheet joint to make a strong bond. The materials must be the same - you cannot effectively join dis-similar materials.

Whew. Ok - I will probably have to keep expanding this post - it's a BIG subject area.

37 comments:

  1. This article is very helpful to understand the properties of various adhesive and the relation between adhesives and substrates,

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  2. 3M makes a great "epoxy" 2 part adhesive for HDPE (high density polyethylene) 3M DP 8010 it holds strong under most conditions. When we tried a sample I was skeptical as polyethylenes don't bond well, but after curing we couldn't get the parts to separate (we kicked the crap out of our samples)I was impressed, the only draw back is the cost. It costs approx. $175.00 to set up with the special gun, tips, plunger etc. but this stuff works. I've been doing this fabrication stuff for 30 plus years and I know what it takes to get this stuff to stick, and it is usually screws. Greg Salmans, Plastic Sales So. Inc.

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  3. Good news! I am going to break out a cartridge of WeldOn 45 structural adhesive and do some testing on HDPE. The high cost of a cartridge has kept me from experimenting. I think there is a huge market for consumer packaging of a polyethylene glue in a little 2 part system.

    Keep posted...

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  4. Hi, Plastic Genius. I'm very keen in knowning the result for your finding, is it possible to let me know the outcome.
    Thank you.

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  5. I have a lifetime shed made of HDPE I would like put sheet foam insulation inside it. What would you suggest the attach the sheet foam to the ceiling and inside walls?

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  6. 3M Spray Adhesive #77 will work great ( or any spray adhesive)

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  7. Hi
    please help! how can coroplast (polypropylene) glue permanently to canvas (artist primed or unprimed)?

    urgently waiting your reply.
    Thanks!

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  8. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  9. I am interested in ordering some PVC foam board (aka Sintra) for a commission project. First I need to know if it can be easily bonded to styrene sheet? If so what is required

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  10. For model making, I wanted to clad PVC foam board with thin sheets of styrene. What, if any solvent based adhesive can be used to bond these two? Can this be done without distorting the relatively thin 0.5mm sheets?

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  11. Hi please can you advise if we can stick plexiglass to ABS? if so what adhesive should we use? Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. We recommend #16 for a 'syrupy' adhesive and #2354 if you are looking for a more water-thin adhesive. Both can be found at their corresponding links below.

      #16:
      http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Plexiglass_Glue/WELD-ON-PLASTIC-ADHESIVE-GLUE-IPS-16-PINT

      #2354:
      http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/ABS-Glue/WELD-ON-PLASTIC-ADHESIVE-GLUE-IPS-2354-PINT

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  12. I've searched all over the internet and cannot find the answer to my problem. I have ABS door panels that I have cut a portion out of so they will fit a different dash I've put into my car. But before reupholstering them I first I need to fill in the gap that was left so what can I use to do this correctly? I've been told that fiberglass strips will not work. Any ideas?

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    Replies
    1. Without seeing the issue/gap it’s hard to suggest something specific. It could be possible to use Bondo and fiberglass similar to repairing a boat’s hull, however it will depend on specific details in your application.

      If you would like to send images of your project to info@eplastics.com and reference this post, we would be happy to have some guys here look over it and see if we can find a more exact solution.

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  13. I broke a hard plastic lampshade into three pieces. How can i glue them together? I'm sure the crack lines will be visible when lit, but what sort of glue do you recommend that would be the best choice? I can send an image if it is helpful. thank you

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    Replies
    1. If there are gaps when you reassemble then you should use IPS 16 (see link below). Be very careful of the flow as it can get messy.

      If you can put together cleanly without any gaps then use IPS 4 (see link below) with the RH200 applicator (see link below).

      You are correct that you will see the seams.

      IPS 16: http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/plexiglass_glue/ips16-pt
      IPS 4: http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/plexiglass_glue/ips4-pint
      RH200: http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/Featured_Items/rh200

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  14. I have a broken bracket on my trucks rear tail/brake/signal housing which I found stamped PC. I'm assuming it's Polycarbonate (Black in color). The adhesive I have is DUCO CEMENT which on package front says safe for plastics however it has a small CAUTION that says NOT RECOMMENDED FOR MOST POLYSTYRENE OR POLYPROPYLENE PLASTICS. Can I use this adhesive or not? It's a fix I must do tonight!

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    Replies
    1. Polypropylene is extremely chemical and adhesive resistant (the bottle that stores the glue you have is probably made of polypropylene). That’s likely the reason it suggests it is not good for polypropylene. I’m not sure why is would suggest is not a good option for polystyrene, but it is a different type of plastic than polycarbonate, so it should work okay.

      Always test it in a small area before starting your project, just to be sure.

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  15. I have a cracked aquarium, i know i could easily fic the glass with Duco Cement, but i´m unsure as to wether it will be safe for my fish or not... any ideas?

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    Replies
    1. I am not familiar with Duco Cement specifically, however I can say that our line of Sci-Grip adhesives is safe and likely more effective. These are chemical welding solvents that actually react with the plastic and cause both pieces of material to fuse together as one.

      The Sci-Grip adhesive is extremely strong and available in a water thin format to help it wick into the crack of the panel. You can find more at the link below: http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/eplastics_how_to_videos/How-to-Glue-Plexiglass-acrylic-from-ePlastics-com

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  16. Hey there!

    I'm making a DIY Acrylic tank using Weld-on 40. I've done a couple test glues with some 3/4" scrap and I'm not finding the puddling from the excess glue to be attractive. Is there any way to prevent the beveling on the inner angle of the joint that results from the excess glue puddling outwards? Assistance would be greatly appreciated!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mike,

      If you're not already, try using 3M 355 tape on both pieces of acrylic where you are making the connection. Then after connecting the two pieces with the glue let it sit for about 15 minutes and remove the tape. The excess glue should spill out onto the tape and prevent it from getting on the acrylic.

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    2. I've experimented with this a but, but it becomes difficult when working with round edges (gluing a bottom to a cylinder for example. Any suggestions for this or is it just one of those make it look as good as you can sort of things?

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    3. Also thanks so much for taking the time to reply, so hard to find info on stuff like this!

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    4. No problem, glad to help out.

      For a cylinder you can try placing the tape down first and then placing the cylinder on top of it.

      Use a blade to cut around the edge, leaving some of the excess tape on the outside of the cylinder in place.

      Then pick up the cylinder and remove the tape that was directly under the cylinder (leaving the little bit of excess that runs around the outer edge).

      Now you should have a tight seal of tape running around the cylinder when you place it down again for gluing.


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  17. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  18. Hi Plastic Genius,

    Is there any way to bond acrylic to polypropylene (I have been asking different people and have been given conflicting information).

    Also, what would you recommend using to bond acrylic to 304 stainless steel?

    Thanks,

    Josh

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    Replies
    1. Hi Josh,

      For bonding acrylic to stainless steel you can use IPS Weld-On 10:
      - http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/multipurpose-glue/ips10-4oz (4 oz)
      - http://www.eplastics.com/Plastic/multipurpose-glue/ips10-pt (Pint)

      Typically we would recommend metal fasteners for bonding acrylic to polypropylene. You could try roughening the surfaces and then using the IPS 10, but fasteners are the best option.

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    2. I am trying to attach mylar to clear plexi sheets about(15"x20"). - so it remains perfectly smooth and flat.What would be the best way to do this? I have tried rubber cement but it doesn't last. I would like a permanent sealed surface.

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    3. Hello, thanks for the question!

      Mylar properties make it difficult to glue to other plastics. We do not carry an adhesive that work for gluing Mylar to Plexiglass.

      I don't know your application, but you could try using a clear double-sided tape like you would find on this page: http://www.eplastics.com/tape

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    4. You seem to know your stuff. I am trying to adhere PETG tubing to an Acrylic endcap. This is for a PC cooling system. The tubing is all PETG but the caps that hook on to the ends to attach the metal fittings are made of acrylic. They are about 1mm larger than the tubing to make a smooth fit but not tight. Normally these would glue to acrylic tubing but that type of tubing is inferior to PETG in PC cooling systems. I really like these fitting but they only come with this acrylic cap. Ideas?

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    5. Hi Handi,

      Thanks for the question!

      If you are looking to glue PETG to acrylic you can use IPS 16, which you'll see in a few different sizes on this page: Acrylic Glue.

      If you're looking for an alternative to the acrylic we could most likely fabricate you an end cap that is made of a different material.

      You can call us at 858-560-1551 or contact us on the web here: ePlastics.


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  19. These sheets are ideal for use in food processing and manufacturing of medical devices because their chemical makeup doesn't allow the growth of bacteria. Polypropylene sheets 4x8

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  20. What glue can I use to put a plexiglass window into a fiberglass tank?

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  21. For this application you want to use a silicone based glue. You can find a few options here: Plastic Glue.

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  22. I have purchased a White Vinyl Lattice sheet 2'x 8' and also the edge molding for it. This product is made by Barrette Outdoor living and I bought at Lowes. They tell me that contraction and expansion due to temperature changes that gluing is not an acceptable method of attaching the edging. I also would like to glue a screen over the lattice in order to keep the bugs out. If I choose to ignore their advice, at my own risk and peril, what glue do you recommend that I use. I relate better to brands like Hot Melt, 2-Part Epoxy, J-B Weld, Gorilla Glue than I do to the scientific names. Thank you for this Blog and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing when you talked about the Graduate as I am probably closer to your father's age than I am to yours. Thanks

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  23. Hi,

    For gluing vinyl to other types of materials we recommend using Weld-On 66.

    WELD-ON 66 is formulated for bonding flexible or rigid vinyl (PVC) to itself or to urethane, leather, canvas, ABS,
    foamed PVC, butyrate and wood.

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