Plastic has come a long way from the early days of Bakelite to the vast array of polymers we see all around us every day. We have become so accustomed to seeing plastic that we don’t even give it a second thought. Most people see plastic and assume all plastics share the same quality and properties. However, there are countless varieties of polymers, and each has unique characteristics.
Dewangtai Product Page
So many of our everyday items are plastic and, from time to time, these items break. It might be a child’s favorite toy or maybe your lucky keychain, but the first thought in your head will probably be “I’ll pick up some super glue and fix it later.” While a cyanoacrylate glue (CA) glue may work, not all plastics are the same and the best methods of bonding these plastics can vary, depending on the type of plastic you are working with. Some plastics may require a plastic glue that has incorporates a solvent-based bonding, and others may require an epoxy-based adhesive.
Most, if not all, of us know the recycling symbol when we see it. It consists of three arrows that form a triangle. It’s all around us all the time, but have you ever looked closely and noticed that there may be a number in the middle or another code under it? This number or code tells us what group of plastic the item falls into. While these numbers and codes exist primarily to ensure that different types of plastic are recycled properly, they can also help you determine what type of adhesive to buy if you need to bond the material.
In total, there are eight recycling codes for plastic. These codes indicate the exact material the product is made of. Items stamped with a 1 are made from Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), while 2 means High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). 3 is used for Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), 4 means Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), 5 represents Polypropylene (PP), 6 is for Polystyrene (PS), 7 indicates other plastics, and 9 is used to represent acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).
Once you know what kind of plastic you are dealing with, you need to choose the adhesive best suited for the material. Plastics in categories 1, 2, 4, and 5 are very difficult to glue. Look for an adhesive for polyethylene or polypropylene. However, certain items in category 1 may prove impossible to glue.
Category 3, PVC, is most commonly used in plumbing. For gluing PVC, there is a two-part primer and PVC solvent cement commonly available in most hardware or home improvement stores.
Items in category 6 are made of polystyrene. For bonding polystyrene, you can use one of a few different options. A poly cement, epoxy, or cyanoacrylate will form a sufficient bond on these items.
Category 7 is a catch-all for plastics that don’t fit into the other categories. These plastics include polycarbonate and acrylic. For polycarbonate, an epoxy will work best. Achieving the best result with acrylic requires an acrylic solvent adhesive. Cyanoacrylate may work, depending on the project.
Category 9 is for ABS plastics. While ABS solvent adhesives are available, they do warp the plastic to a degree. For optimal results, an epoxy should be used. However, cyanoacrylate glue may also work well for this application.
The Infinity SuperTAC 500 Plastic Bonding Glue Sticks are one of the best plastic bonding hot melt options. With their quality heat resistance and bonding abilities to a wide range of plastics including PP, PE, PET and PV, the SuperTAC 500 outperforms many other plastic bonding glue sticks. The product’s cost effective price per pound also can’t be beat.
In some instances, a recycling logo and code may not be marked on the item in question. Under these circumstances, you will have to make an educated guess or do a bit of research. There are a few things to keep in mind that may help you determine the exact plastic you’re dealing with. If the plastic is hard like a bucket or milk crate, it is likely to be polyethylene or polypropylene. These plastics are nearly impossible to glue unless you choose an adhesive that is marked specifically for use with polyethylene or polypropylene.
Clear, brittle plastics like imitation glass or CD cases are usually polystyrene. A poly cement will work best on these. Legos are made of ABS. If the mystery plastic feels similar to a Lego block, you’ll want to use an epoxy cement. It is important to note that solvent-based adhesives can warp and change the surface of the plastic. This is something to consider if appearance is important.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Adhesive Products with Acrylic Polymers. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
Rubber adhesives are made from natural or synthetic rubber resins. Individual elements do not change, the components are mixed to produce an adhesive.
Rubber adhesives have:
Where do you find Rubber adhesives - most masking tapes (paper), most packaging tapes (plastics), vinyl, and plastic backing? Rubber Adhesives are best when you want quick adhesion and maximum holding power in the shortest amount of time. Consider Double Coated tapes when you need a quick bond to paper and paper board, or most fiber-based products.
Acrylic adhesives are a type of synthetic, polymer-based adhesive that are known for their strong bonding properties and good weather resistance. Acrylic adhesives can be formulated to produce specific high-performance characteristics.
Acrylic adhesives have:
Where do you find acrylic adhesive: On backings made of Polyester, Foils, Teflon, Tedlar, Kaptons, and other Polypropylene single side tapes. Acrylic adhesives are best to use when you want long- term holding, high temperature, and extreme exposure to conditions. Consider double-coated tapes when you need high holding power and adhesion to a wide variety of substrate surfaces.
Now that you have identified the characteristics of each adhesive option, you can make an informed decision when it comes to determining which adhesive will optimize end-use performance and production value. The decision comes down to comparing the flexibility of the adhesive and its reaction to your substrate.
Gleicher experts are here to work with you and help you determine the best product for your design objectives.
Learn more about 3M bonding tapes.
Read more about TESTING on our Blog: How to test adhesive tapes for industrial assembly applications.
Or talk to a Gleicher expert!
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Acrylic Polymers for the Paper and Packaging Industry.