Plastic Materials
- Acrylic (Plexiglas)
- Durable;
- Shatter resistant (compared to glass);
- Can be machined to close tolerances.
- Uses include windows, displays, and lab fixtures.
- Glueable using Methylene Chloride as a solvent
or
Weld-On 4 (solvent), Weld-On 16 (thickened),
cyanoacrylic super-glues do not work well.
- Polycarbonate (Lexan)
- Durable;
- 30x more shatter resistant (compared to Acrylic);
- Easy to fabricate.
- Uses include windows and transparent shields.
- Gluing with Methylene Chloride does not work well but
Weld-On 55 (two-part) and some cyanoacrylic super-glues do.
- Poly Vinyl Chloride -- PVC
- High-impact and chemical resistant;
- Toxic and corrosive when heated or laser cut.
- Uses include casings and water pipes (white).
- Glue with plumbing PVC cement, Oatey 30875
Flexible Clear Cement, or
Weld-On 780, 781, 782.
- Acetone works as a solvent.
- Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene -- ABS
- High-impact and chemical resistant;
- Laser cutable and 3D printable.
- Uses include casings and waste water pipes (black).
- Glue with plumbing ABS cement, Weld-On 773, 778, or
2354, or
Oatey - 30818 - All-Purpose Medium Bodied Cement.
- MEK or Methylene Chloride work as a solvents.
- Acetal (Delrin)
- Machines as well as brass and aluminum;
- Properties:
- High degree of toughness
- Impact strength
- Dimensional stability
- Low coefficient of friction
- Fair chemical resistance;
- Uses include gears, bearings, pump and valve components.
- To glue, Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder or Poly-Zap
Multi-Purpose Formula may be used.
- Nylon
- Extremely strong, tough, and abrasion resistant;
- Has self lubricating characteristics;
- Properties:
- Impact resistance;
- Mechanical strength;
- Resilience
- Good insulating properties;
- Dimensional stability at high temperatures;
- Resistance to a variety of chemicals;
- Uses include bushings, pulleys, and gears.
- To glue, Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder or Poly-Zap
Multi-Purpose Formula may be used
but the joins may not be high strength.
- Polyethylene -- LDPE and HDPE
- Flexible and impact resistant;
- Chemical resistant;
- Uses include plastic bags (LDPE), bottles and cutting
boards (HDPE).
- Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder or TAP Poly-Weld Adhesive
may work as a glue.
- Polypropylene -- PP
- Harder surface than Polyethylene;
- Chemical resistant;
- Uses include plastic bags (LDPE), cutting boards (HDPE).
- Loctite Epoxy Plastic Bonder or TAP Poly-Weld Adhesive
may work as a glue.
- Polystyrene ("styrene" and Styrofoam)
- Excellent forming and injection molding properties;
- Non-toxic and odorless.
- Uses include signs, models, toys, packaging, coffee
cups.
- Glue with hobby model glue.
- Toluene or Methelene Chloride work as a solvents.
- Thin film materials
- Flexible sheets;
- Cutable;
- Printable.
- Cellulose Acetate --
- Used in graphics and signs;
- Doesn't glue very well, but Goop may work for some
uses.
- Acetone may work as a solvent.
- Polyethylene Terephthalate -- Polyester Film
-- PETE (Mylar) --
- Used in soda bottles;
- Doesn't glue very well, but Goop may work for some
uses.
- Vinyl
- Very flexible;
- Used in signs and upholstery;
- Use special vinyl glues or materials for PVC.
- Resins
- For surfacing or molding;
- Polyester Resins
- Two part fiberglas and casting resins;
- Use TAP Styrene Monomer as a thinner.
- Acetone works as a solvent.
- Epoxy Resins
- Two part fiberglas and casting resins;
- Acetone and MEK work as a solvents/thinners.
- Polyurethanes -- PU
- Foams and surface coatings;
- Used in insulation and protective coatings;
- Not much disolves it after it sets.
- Melamine formaldehyde (Melamine, Formica)
- Uses include dishes and tabletops.
- Some contact adhesives and silicone sealants work
for gluing.
- Polyetheretherketone -- PEEK
- Strong;
- Chemical and heat resistant;
- Uses include medical implants.
- Some epoxies may work as adhesives.
- Polytetrafluoroethylene -- PTFE (Teflon)
- Slippery and chemical resistant;
- Low friction surface;
- Heat resistant;
- Uses include plumber's tape, guides, gasketing, non-stick surfaces.
- Not much will work as an adhesive.
Commercial Adhesive Roundup
- Testors (and others) Model Cement
-- Toulene based for models and toys. Only works on polystyrene.
- Cyanoacrylate
"Super Glues" -- work sometimes on some things for some time.
- SureHold
302 Plastic Surgery Glue --
better than regular cyanoacrylate Super Glue on most plastics.
-
Gorilla Glue -- Polyurethane glue for wood and many plastics.
- Loctite Plastics Bonding System -- Two part super glue.
Bonds leather, cork, paper, cardboard, wood, chipboard, fabric, metal,
ceramic, rubber and plastics such as acrylic, polycarbonate,
polystyrene, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, and PTFE (maybe...).
- Loctite
Epoxy Plastic Bonder -- Two part, primer and adhesive, for bonding:
PVC, polycarbonate, acrylic, ABS, polyester fibre, Nylon,
Mylar, Delrin, and phenolic to themselves or aluminum and stainless steel.
Not recommended for wet areas or bonding polyethylene, polypropylene,
or Teflon.
- JB Weld PlasticWeld -- Two part
epoxy putty, bonds nearly every material
perfectly, with the exception of polyethylene,
polypropylene, and Teflon (according to the web).
- Weld-On
(adhesive products chart):
- Weld-On 4
and 16 -- A clear solvent or thickend cement for
acrylic. Both also cement styrene, butyrate, and other plastics.
- Weld-On 55
-- For bonding a wide variety of thermoplastics,
including polycarbonate, butyrate, PETG, buffed acrylic, ABS, PVC,
polyurethane and foam board.
- Weld-On 66
-- Light bodied, fast setting, versatile solvent cement for
bonding flexible or rigid vinyl to itself or to urethane, leather, canvas,
ABS, foamed PVC, butyrate, and wood.
- Poly-Zap Multi Purpose Formula --
For Lexan. Medium viscosity, sets in seconds. Not for use in wet
locations or with Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, and certain
silicone rubbers.
- TAP Poly-Weld Adhesive -- Two part adhesive for Polyethylene.
- All Purpose Amazing GOOP®
(good review) --
A silicon type glue and sealant which sticks to almost everything
except nylon and polyurethane. Remains slightly resilient
after curing. According to the intertubes
the Automotive, Household, and Plumbing versions are identical
but the Marine and Outdoor types are more UV-resistant. The original
Shoe Goo is a bit more flexible after curing.
The E6000 version is more liquid and "self leveling".
Useful Info: According GOOP Central (1-800-693-GOOP), there are three
recommended solvents for GOOP. They
are acetone, toluene and naphtha. Acetone will do a good job on GOOP that
has not fully set. Toluene is a more powerful solvent that will remove
fully set GOOP. Naphtha, a solvent used in dry cleaning and a primary
component of Zippo®, Ronson® and other lighter fluids (used in wick-type
cigarette lighters), is recommended for removing GOOP on clothing.
-
Duco Cement -- Multi-purpose household glue.
Bonds wood, china, leather, glass, paper, ceramics and metal.
Works on phenolic resin plastics such as formica but
not for polystyrene, polyethylene, or polypropylene.
Acetone is a good solvent for Duco.
For the Recyclers Out There
Typical Solvents for Cementing Thermoplastics