Bonding acrylic

[gtmoore]

Can anyone tell me the best way to bond acrylic sheeting? I have used Super Glue in the past which is very strong but it looks quite untidy when using transparent sheet and wondered if there was something made for the job.

Thanks

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin

 

[ccscott49]

I know wityh perspex, we used to use ether, it bonds the corners/joints together, without looking unsightly. Made a few covers for ornaments etc this way.

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[Johnjo]

Have hads good results from the glue that builders merchants supply to stick plastic
plumbing pipes together with, this glue eats into both surfaces giving a really strong joint.
Sorry cannot remember the name of the stuff !..

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[VicS]

Never heard of anyone using ether before no doubt it will dissolve acrylic, but is very volatile and very highly flammable.

The more usual solvent is chloroform but I not sure about its availability now (as it's a halocarbon .... ozone layer and all that). I have in the past, many times, made up a cement by dissolving perspex swarf, made by drilling loads of holes in a bit of scrap, in chloroform. It's better than just using the neat solvent as it makes more reliable joint and does not tend to run and mark the surface of the job.

From the very distant past I can remember a two part cement called Tensol. Maybe a search for that will turn something up.

Quickly looked that up:
Tensol No. 12 is a single component cement which hardens by solvent evapoartion, Tensol No. 70 is a two part catalysed cement which cures at ambient temperatures to produce a high strength bond and offers excellent weathering resistance.

That info comes from a K&M (Wholesale suppliers) Ltd catalogue. They supply Technology materials and equipment to schools. How well do you know your childrens' Technology teacher?

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple>

 

[Omatako]

I've had good results with chloroform but it doesn't seem to penetrate very deeply into the acrylic so be sure that the joint is true. Chloroform won't fill any gaps if used neat. Haven't tried the making of a glue as you describe, sounds like that would work well with a joint that isn't true. Also don't know if the product is still available.

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[Spuddy]

any adhesive used to bond transparent adhesive will look unsightly. The choices are contact adhesive for face to face joints where there's a reasonable area in contact. The other option is some type of solvent based stuff. Doubt if you'd get hold of chloroform. 2 types of tensol : 2part is very dear but high performance. The one pack is a solvent with some acrylic in it to thicken it up to a cement. For edge joints - like a T - hold the bits in place with tape and brush round some thin solvent which will creep in by capillary action; the stuff I use is at work but I think the chemical shorthand is either MEK or MKPS or ....
Best advice so far is contact K&M - they'll have the right stuff.
stick with it

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[BarryH]

M.E.K is what your after. Methlyethylketone, think thats how its spelt. Chap I know is a commercial model maker. They use it for making the covers outta acrylic sheet. Don't actuall know what it does, but does give very clean and tidy joints.

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[VicS]

Correct name for MEK these days is butanone. Not tried it on acrylic as I have always had chloroform available but I have used it for other plastics.

<hr width=100% size=1><font color=purple>Ne te confundant illegitimi.</font color=purple><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by VicS on 08/12/2003 01:59 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[wiggy]

I work at a school and we do lots of work with acrylic. The best adhesive is liquid solvent cement, it works on a capillary action so you hold your joint tight then run the solvent cement along the edge and it is drawn in. It dries faily clear and is stronger that the acrylic. Contact any acrylic suplier for details.

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[gtmoore]

Thanks for everyone's input - I'll check these out.

Cheers

<hr width=100% size=1>Gavin