Tech-Bond Solutions
"When performance is a must!"
Tech-Bond's Poly Prep - making the "impossible" easy.
If you ask most principals of the plastics industry, the commentary will be that you can't glue polyethylene, UHMW's, polypropylene, silicone, et al. Even within the adhesive industries there are many who don't think that these materials can be glued. Others aware of this technology, simply don't understand the "how to" of gluing polymers. Despite this skepticism, polymers can be bonded. By following the simple instructions given with Tech-Bond's Poly Prep, anyone can glue poly to poly, or a poly to anything.
Items needed to glue polymers are found under "Kits for Polymers" in the Shopping Cart. These kits contain Tech-Bond's Poly Prep, a surface primer for the poly, and a Bonding Agent (the glue). You can choose either the thin, wicking grade. SI Green, the standard viscosity SI Blue, or the easy-to-handle, thick viscosity, SI Black as the Bonding Agent. With these two tools, the Poly Prep and a Bonding Agent, you will be surprised as how easily these "unglueable" materials bond.
How to use the Tech-Bond Molecular Bonding System™ on ;
Nylon, UHMW, HDPE, Mylar®, Teflon®, Delrin®, Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polyurethane, PET, ABS. flexible polymers, co-polymers, Silicone, UHMWPE's, et al.
Examples: These plastics, or, more properly, polymers, because of their strength, durability and lightness are becoming common in every day life. Polymers are used in dentures, plastic eye glass frames, RC Helicopters, kitchen appliance plastics, plastics on the car, boar, ATV, etc., HDPE picture frames, cell phones, cameras, printers, computers, other electronic items and hundreds of other items that are part of everyday life.
Despite the difficulty you have experienced in trying to glue all these items, the Tech-Bond system will do the job .... as long as you're not trying to defy the laws of physics. Translation: if the item was engineered properly, Tech-Bond will repair the item and withstand the normal wear and tear of everyday usage. If you want to break the repair and apply sufficient stress so that the original polymers would have been stretched (warped), the bond will break.
When working with polymers, Tech-Bond Bonding Agents act as a monomer, forming a bond on the molecular level with the polymers that you are working with. Polymers, after all, are just a string of monomers. It is important to note that molecular bonds are stronger and more durable than glue joins.
How effective the Tech-Bond system works is dependent on the materials to be bonded, the amount of surface area available and the stress that will be applied to the repaired item. Once the polymer surface is cleaned and, if appropriate, roughed, the first step is the application of the Poly Prep. Our Poly Prep comes with a pump sprayer which we feel is the most efficient methodology for applying the primer. A brush can also be used to apply the Poly Prep™. A brush cap that fits our metal bottle is available in accessories in the shopping cart.. Please note that the Poly Prep evaporates quickly so, after using, put the cap back on ... tightly.
Our Poly Prep (PP) performs several actions to prepare the polymer surface for bonding. First the PP etches the surface, then it dries the surface oil on the material (poly's are petroleum based) and, critically, "opens up" the polymers, so that one of our Bonding Agents (monomers) can recombine with the with the individual monomers of the polymer.
These actions are why our Poly Prep comes in a metal bottle. Beware of plastic primers that come in poly-plastic bottles. They might losr their potency just by sitting in the bottle. Store our Poly Prep in a cool dry place.
For fresh breaks
By definition of a break, the polymers are already broken. If it's a repair that will not be subjected to stress, simply saturate the break (both sides) with the Poly Prep, let dry and wait for a few minutes, then glue. From impossible to easy in five minutes. Let cure for 24 hours.
Flexible Polymers
Polyester and flexible nylon bonds rather easily. Flexible surfaces do not need to be roughed. The critical component of flexible bonds is to prevent a "peel" from starting. Once a peel starts, it can't be stopped. To prevent a peel, make sure the Bonding Agent reaches all the way to the edge of the bond. Follow the standard procedure, but be sure to apply the Bonding Agents as thinly as possible making sure the edges are covered. If doing a large area, you may "ladder" the area to be bonded by just running strips of the Bonding Agent within the area.
Virgin Polymers
When working with virgin polymers where the strength, aggressively rough the surface(s) to be bonded with medium or coarse grit sand paper. After roughing;
1) Saturate the polymer surface to be bonded with PP, both surfaces if polymer to polymer, let dry.
2) Let the treated surface cure for five minutes.
3) Apply Bonding Agent thoroughly over one or both surfaces, press together. If necessary, spray the seam with the Activator/Accelerator.
4) Let bond cure for 24 hours without stress.
If you have further questions, please call 877 565 7225 for technical support.
Materials needed to glue these polymers are found under "Kits for Polymers" in the Shopping Cart. You will need the Poly Prep as a surface primer and then a Bonding Agent (the glue). Once the surface is properly treated, you will be surprised as how easily the bond is made.
Click on the link below to purchase one of the kits that will allow you to glue polymers.
http://www.shop.tech-bond.net/product.sc?productId=25&categoryId=11
