Adhesive bonding is one of the most popular ways to join two plastics or cover a cracked one, while plastic welding is a more sophisticated technique for joining and fabricating plastics. These two processes aim to achieve the same results, but depending on the situation, one technique may be better than the other. If you’re wondering which technique to use for your next plastic project, keep reading!
Let’s talk about adhesive bonding.
Adhesive Bonding
With Adhesive bonding, the material to be fixed remains intact, while a chemical bond is formed on top of it. There are different types of adhesives used for joining plastics, but the question is how strong are they?
- Super Glue: it’s rare to find someone who hasn’t tried to fix their favorite childhood plastic glasses with super glue. This quick-drying adhesive works best for small plastic repairs.
- Epoxy Resin: Works for a wider range of plastic repair and joining. It is strong and durable, but still more prone to breakage than plastic welding.
- Cement: Not your regular kind of cement, solvent cement is used mostly in the construction industries to join PVC or plastic plumbing materials.
Plastic Welding
The almighty plastic welding technique is stronger and, of course, more durable. It goes just beyond joining two plastics together; it involves the use of heat to create an unbreakable bond between two plastics.
Plastic welding is a more reliable and durable technique than adhesive bonding because the bond is seamless. But what really sets plastic welding apart?
- Durable: Compared to adhesives, plastic welding cannot be affected by wear and tear. It is as solid as it can be- strong enough to withstand vibrations.
- Special equipment has to be used to achieve a proper plastic weld, compared to the DIY process involved in using adhesives.
- While not all adhesives are waterproof, plastic welded materials cannot be affected negatively by water.
Adhesive bonding works for small, in house repairs but plastic welding is perfect for industrial scale joining of plastic materials. The two are distinct, and offer different levels of reliability, so if you want a professional and long-lasting fix, use plastic welding.