Solvent for Lexan

[nodoze]

I'm going to be making a duct out of lexan & was wondering what type of adhesive would be best. In a couple of other posts I've read that using a solvent was better that using an epoxy, but nowhere did anyone mention which solvent.

So, has anybody used a solvent to bond 2 pieces of lexan together & if so, what kind (brand / product name) & where did you purchase it?

 

[stool]

I have used PVC cement to glue peices of acrylic together, and when it dries it holds great. It does take longer to dry, though. I imagine you could do the same w/Lexan. You can find it(and cleaner) in any hardware store. One tip, though. Don't use the applicator from the cement directly if you want a really neat job, as the cement tends to spread a bit from the applicator.

 

[CompuDrew]

Shoe Goo works great, too!

I race radio controlled nitro cars and Shoe Goo is like 200 mph tape for the Lexan bodies! Works great for backing to keep the lexan from cracking from a 40+ mph impact, too!

 

[tcl]

Anything with the active ingredient "MEC" (methylene chloride) should work. For plexiglass, you don't really want to use one of the pipe-type adhesives which are thick but rather should use a very light liquid. The type i have is mec and diacetone alcohol (just a carrier, i think) . Anyway, you need it to be very thin as the way it is applied, you first assemble the parts then allow the cement to wick into the joint (capillary action). It is best applied with a small bottle and long, thin needle. I picked up the stuff i have from a local hardware store and it is called "craftics plastick (sic) acrylic solvent cement" and is distributed by craftics in chicago. the stock number is 1106002.

 

[nodoze]

Thanks TCL. That's sounds like what I'm looking for. Just 1 more question though.
If I read your post correctly, you said the MEC works on plexiglass. It's my understanding that lexan & plexiglass are differant materials so, will MEC work on lexan as well?

 

[Captain Slug]

When people say "plexiglass" they should be referring to both types.

Acrylic (transparent polyeurethane) is made for application where abrasion might occur. Acrylic does not hold up to any form of impact and cracks under very little effort.
Lexan (transparent polycarbonate, also referred to as Perspex) is made for impact resistance. It can be coated with UV blocking treatments (quite a few different grades available) or you can buy it with a abrasion resitant layer (acrylic melted to it's surface).

I personally can't stand working with Acrylic if I need to cut or drill into it. It gives off brain-splitting fumes when heated and cracks if you aren't extremely careful.

To answer your question... Yes, TCL is making the right suggestion. If a glue works well on one it will work on both.

 

[tcl]

Sorry, i could have been more clear on that but i see you've an answer now. Anyway, mec will work on many different "plastics". I'm pretty sure the same stuff is used in a variety of cements, and that they mostly just differ by whatever the best thickness / consistency is for a particular application. I think plastic model glue uses the same stuff. For the cement to work the best, the parts should fit together very tightly but the surfaces shouldn't be polished, and should be very clean.

 

[nodoze]

Thanks for clearing up my questions guys. I'll get some MEC soon.