There are a variety of glue and adhesive options available. Adhesives for DIY and craft projects, as well as of industrial-strength adhesives for manufacturing, are all available. You will use glue for a variety of projects and applications if you are a hobbyist. We can also use it for other tasks like plastic modeling. When selecting the strongest epoxy for plastic, keep in mind what the adhesive was designed for. Not all glues are appropriate for plastic; each has its own formulation. Some are extremely versatile, while others have very limited applications.
The strongest epoxy for plastic is a 2-part epoxy resin. Epoxy resin is a type of adhesive. It can bond two or more objects together by chemically reacting to form a solid. The strongest epoxy for plastics also has a lifetime warranty.
Epoxy is a type of adhesive. It can bond two or more objects together by chemically reacting to form a solid. It can bond two or more objects together by chemically reacting to form a solid. The best epoxy for plastics is a 2-part epoxy resin. The best epoxy for plastics also has a lifetime warranty.
Let’s look at some of the best plastic epoxy options and what to look for in a product like this.
Table of Contents
The Two Main Forms of Adhesives
There are two main forms of adhesives: solvent-based and water-based. Each type has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Solvent-based adhesives are typically more powerful and durable than water-based adhesives. However, solvent-based adhesives can also be more harmful to the environment and can be more difficult to work with.
Water-based adhesives are less harmful to the environment and are easier to work with than solvent-based adhesives. However, water-based adhesives are typically not as durable or powerful as solvent-based adhesives.
The two main types of adhesives are:
1. Contact adhesives: These adhesives make contact between the surfaces to be joined and form a bond.
2. Non-contact adhesives: These adhesives work by forming a film between the surfaces to be joined. Non-contact adhesive systems are typically more durable than contact adhesives but are more difficult to apply.
Here is a quick reference point for some common examples:
- Plastic, rubber, fiberglass, metal, and glass all benefit from epoxy.
- Metal, plastic, rubber, glass, and fiberglass can all benefit from acrylic.
- Plastic, fabric, leather, and metal can all benefit from cyanoacrylates.
- For plastic and other surfaces, urethane is used.
Why Use Strongest Epoxy for Plastic?
It’s always a good idea to keep the best epoxy for plastic on hand in the house because we can use it for a variety of repairs and quick fixes. Epoxy for plastic is a simple solution for many repair jobs, but it comes with some drawbacks.
Epoxy is a two-part adhesive that is very strong and can bond a wide variety of materials, including plastic. It is available as a liquid or a solid, and it cures quickly to form a tough, durable bond. Epoxy is also waterproof and can withstand high temperatures.
Epoxy is a very strong adhesive and is perfect for bonding together plastic parts. It is weatherproof and can withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for a variety of applications.
How Does an Epoxy Work?
Because epoxies are a reactive adhesive, they work. They react chemically with the surface they apply to, forming strong polar bonds when hardened through a chemical reaction between the epoxy and the surface.
A hardening catalyst or hardener is required to harden an epoxy adhesive. This means that instead of just bonding two surfaces, all epoxy adhesives can fill large gaps.
After mixing the two parts of epoxy, the adhesive usually has a working window (also known as a pot life) during which it will not fully harden.
You can apply it to the surfaces or mold it to the shape during that time (moldable epoxies are available–more on that later).
If you wait longer than the working window and try to work with it, you’ll find that it is much more difficult to spread and remove air bubbles. Wait for the epoxy to harden after it has been applied, and then wait for it to cure.
This time for curing allows your newly formed epoxy bead to harden completely and hold its shape, effectively turning it into a hard plastic bead.
However, once cured, epoxy can be sanded, drilled, sawed, and painted. It is highly heat resistant and weather-resistant, making it ideal for outdoor use.
Each brand and variety of epoxy has its own set time and curing time, so read the packaging carefully to avoid wasting any.
Depending on the application, you may want an epoxy that sets faster, cures faster, is easier to shape or is a specific color.
Epoxy adhesives are so versatile that you’ll have no trouble finding one that meets your needs. You may want an epoxy that sets faster, cures faster, is easier to shape or is a specific color.
I’ll go over some of the best options available right now and which one might be better for your specific needs.
Using Epoxy Glue: Pros and Cons
Epoxy is a two-part adhesive known for its high strength and resistance to environmental factors such as water and heat. It is commonly used for bonding metals, wood, and plastic.
It is important to follow the instructions carefully when using epoxy, as incorrect use can lead to problems.
How to Use Epoxy in Plastics
One of the first things you should do is make sure you have everything you need. Remove anything you don’t want adhesive to stick to from your workspace. Humidity and temperature fluctuations can affect the epoxy adhesive’s ability to bond to a surface, so the environment you work in is important. The ideal working temperature is between 70 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit (21 to 23 degrees Celsius). While you’re working, there should be almost no humidity.
Always work in a well-ventilated area; many adhesives emit fumes and odors that can harm your health if you’re not careful. Many of the adhesives are also flammable, making working in a safe environment even more critical.
When using the strongest epoxy for plastic, follow these steps:
- Always follow the instructions on the epoxy adhesive label.
- This implies that you should use the adhesive for the job.
- Sand the surface to make it slightly rough.
- Remove any dust and dirt.
- Hold the syringe upright and snip off the tip.
- To push any bubbles up, lightly press the syringe.
- Prepare a disposable plate or tray in advance.
- Push down on the plunger, which will evenly release both contents.
- Pull the plunger back slightly and wipe it clean before replacing the cap.
- For about a minute, combine the hardener and resin.
- Apply to the desired area.
- Press your items together tightly.
- Read the labels on your products because they may have different settings and curing times.
- Get rid of any excess adhesive.
Videos
Which Epoxy is Best for Plastic? Let's find out!
Gluing Plastics
Epoxy For Plastic Repair
Repair Broken Plastic Parts with Epoxy
What’s the matter, you’re running late?
I’ve got my top pick right here for just a few reasons, why I love it.
Overall Best: GORILLA 2-Part Epoxy
There are many great plastic epoxy options available, but this one by Gorilla has to be considered the overall best epoxy for plastic. This epoxy is a fantastic adhesive made by a fantastic company. This epoxy will meet most of your needs thanks to its ample working time and reasonable curing time.
This is thanks to its versatility, superior bonding strength, and clean, clear finish. Epoxy is a good choice for various plastics, but we can also use it on a wider range of other surfaces, such as glass, tiles, wood, metal, and ceramics. This is also a waterproof epoxy for plastic, and it will withstand solvents. We can use it for all kinds of repair jobs and heavy-duty bonding and filling in gaps. We packed this adhesive in a syringe form with a separation between the hardener and the epoxy. When applied, we release an equal amount of both parts for easy mixing.
- Two-barrel, easy-to-use extruder.
- Set aside five minutes.
- Automotive applications on the outside are sufficient.
- Steel, aluminum, glass, wood, ceramics, and most plastics are all compatible.
1. Gorilla Two-Part Epoxy
Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy,85 Ounce, 5 Minute Set…
- Strong, long-lasting, quick, and gap-filling; ideal for a variety of surfaces.
- Best for difficult repairs that require a strong bond, gap filling, and solvent resistance.
- This two-part epoxy from the gorilla is ideal for almost any adhesion task.
- It’s safe to use on small appliances, large indoor projects, and even automotive repairs, according to Gorilla.
- The dried product is weatherproof, heat resistant up to 185°F, and extremely durable.
- When dry, it’s also solvent resistant, so clean up any spills or overfills while curing.
- Most two-part epoxies have a similar tensile strength, but this one is stronger than average.
- It cures in 24 hours and sets in five minutes, so you’ll have plenty of time to apply the epoxy and maneuver the pieces you’re adhering to before your epoxy dries.
- This also allows you to set for the appropriate time because you won’t need clamps or grips to keep the pieces of material fused together.
- Because the pieces only need to be held together for five minutes, you can walk away from your project and leave it to cure for 24 hours.
- All the two-part epoxies on this list require a 1:1 hardener to solvent ratio, which can be difficult to achieve in small quantities.
- Gorilla has developed a two-barrel syringe that, by design, extrudes an equal amount of each, relieving you of the burden of measuring out precise amounts.
- It included a cap that fits over both heads with the syringe design.
- This epoxy from the gorilla will last for a couple of years if you clean the nozzles after each use.
- Because of this epoxy, it can act as a gap filler, so you won’t have to worry about large cracks or gaps.
- Because it dries to the hardness of tough plastic, you can use it to replace structurally important parts and be confident that it will hold.
- The epoxy also dries clear, making it ideal for projects where the joint or adhesion point needs to be hidden.
- It’s also sendable, drillable, and paintable, allowing you to conceal it.
- When mixed, you get 0.85 fluid ounces of epoxy, which is enough to fill larger gaps.
- Polyethylene and polypropylene are the only plastics that this epoxy isn’t approved for.
- These plastics react with the solvent and can cause uneven adhesion, or the epoxy’s solvent can cause wear on the plastic.
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2. Plastic Epoxy That is Easy to Use: YANYI Epoxy Putty Stick
Having a handy plastic epoxy on hand for any DIY project that may arise is always a good idea. Yanyi’s epoxy putty is an extremely simple solution for anyone looking to make a strong bond quickly. This plastic epoxy hardens into a putty that can be easily shaped to fit any need. This epoxy can also repair leaks and seal pipes, pools, and other similar surfaces because of its putty format. We cut all you have to do now and work the putty until you get the desired color and consistency. Allow the putty to cure before applying it to the surfaces. Working with the putty will take approximately ten minutes in total. After an hour, it will harden and cure completely. Moldable Epoxy Glue, YANYI Epoxy Putty Stick
- Metal, wood, glass, ceramic, fiberglass, stone, marble, and many rigid plastics are all compatible.
- Simple to use: Simply cut, knead by hand, and dry
- Completely hardened and permanently fixed after 24 hours
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3. Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix
0.47-Fluid Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix
- Self-mixing dispensers and precision applicators are simple to use.
- Wood, metal, tile, ceramic, glass, plastic, and more are all held together by a high-strength formula.
- Loctite’s two-part epoxy performs nearly identically to Gorilla’s epoxy.
- Loctite has been making adhesives for over 50 years, and it shows in this epoxy.
- Because this syringe only contains 0.47 fluid ounces of epoxy, it may not be ideal for larger gluing jobs.
- The Loctite epoxy has a five-minute setting time and a 24-hour curing time, similar to the Gorilla epoxy.
- With a maximum set strength of 3,200 psi, however, this epoxy falls short of the high standards already established.
- This epoxy can bond a variety of materials, including metal, glass, ceramic, wood, many rigid plastics, china, tile, fiberglass, concrete, and even stone.
- This epoxy is best for smaller projects, especially visual applications, such as small-scale modeling.
- With Loctite, you can use a precision tip to make sure you only apply the epoxy to the desired areas.
- The two-barrel syringe extruder design that was useful in the Gorilla epoxy is still present.
- Loctite provides two precision-nozzle heads so that you can continue to use this feature even if one of the nozzle heads becomes blocked by dried epoxy.
- Because this epoxy dries clear, there’s no need to be concerned about it standing out. Interestingly, Loctite claims that we can tint this epoxy before used to ensure that we achieved the desired color.
- You won’t have to worry about changing the epoxy’s composition if you use epoxy pigment.
- It will still take the same time to set and cure. Because you can customize the epoxy while still sanding, drilling, and painting it, it’s ideal for miniature modeling in Warhammer and even precise-scale plane modeling.
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4. PlasticWeld Epoxy Putty (J-B Weld 8237)
PlasticWeld Plastic Repair Epoxy, J-B Weld 8237…
- J-B Weld Plasticweld is a two-part epoxy putty stick that can be mixed by hand and is designed to repair and…
- Plasticweld takes 25 minutes to cure and set after hand-kneading the two-part formula together.
- The first putty on our list is J-B Weld’s PlasticWeld epoxy putty.
- Epoxy putty functions similarly to liquid epoxy adhesive, with the exception that it is completely workable and shapeable prior to application.
- It also has a much longer working time and a much shorter curing time, but this means that its tensile strength will be lower.
- The putty has a shorter shelf life once opened because it is slightly mixed before use.
- J-B Weld has packaged both putties together so you don’t have to worry about mixing the epoxy and hardener in a perfect 1:1 ratio.
- Simply combine the two components into a single solid mass of uniform color, and the epoxy’s pot life/setting begins.
- Don’t worry about rushing to mold and place this epoxy haphazardly because you only have about half an hour to work with.
- The putty can sculpt a landscape or fill in larger gaps in a damaged car bumper.
- It sticks right away but can be molded for up to 30 minutes after mixing.
- This epoxy, like the others, can be sanded, cut, drilled, and painted to achieve the desired look.
- It cures to an off-white color, allowing you to paint over it with ease.
- It is also completely waterproof and heat resistant once cured, making it ideal for outdoor use.
- Because this is still epoxy, we should wear gloves when working with the putty because it can be slightly corrosive.
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5. Plastic Welder Devcon 22045
Devcon 22045 Plastic Welder – Dev-Tube (25 mL)
- A powerful structural adhesive that can bond materials that are like one another or materials that differ from one another, as well as…
- Weathers well is resistant to high humidity and temperature changes; cured adhesive can be drilled and sanded…
- This Devcon epoxy is very similar to our top choice and performs almost as well.
- Each syringe contains 0.84 fluid ounces and can adhere to most materials.
- Polyethylene and polypropylene, like the other epoxies, will be difficult to bond.
- It has almost the same tensile strength as Gorilla Two-Part Epoxy at 3,200 psi and is suitable for most indoor and outdoor applications.
- The epoxy and hardener come in familiar packaging (two barrels, a single plunger, and an extruder), so you won’t have to measure out the two components.
- The application of this epoxy differs significantly from the other two liquid epoxies.
- Even before curing, the Devcon epoxy is water-resistant, so you can use it in less-than-ideal weather.
- This epoxy also gives you an extra 15 minutes of working time before it sets.
- This means you can take a step back and double-check your bond, making minor adjustments if necessary.
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6. Plastic Weld Quick-Setting Epoxy by J-B Weld 50132
Plastic Weld Quick-Setting Epoxy by J-B Weld 50132…
- J-B WELD PLASTICWELD is a two-part epoxy that sets quickly and can be used for a variety of applications.
- CURE AND SET TIME: After combining the two-part formula with the mixing tray and stir stick that came with the kit,…
- J-B Weld’s two-part, quick-setting epoxy is the second product on the list.
- The fact that this is the last epoxy on our list does not imply that it is a bad epoxy.
- This is a great epoxy for quick jobs, and J-B Weld has a lot of good features.
- You get 0.84 fluid ounces of epoxy per syringe, just like the other high-end epoxies, and the standard two-barrel syringe design.
- Plastic Weld Quick-Setting Epoxy has a no-waste, resealable cap that ensures proper application and long-term storage.
- The quick setting and curing time of this epoxy is a major selling point.
- This epoxy, according to J-B Weld, sets to full hardness in an hour and has a tensile strength of 3,900 psi, which is a huge number.
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Buyer’s Guide
To ensure a solid bond when using epoxy to bind plastics, you must take a few extra precautions and do some preparation. Epoxies are excellent for binding most materials because they don’t require special conditions to cure and can cure in as little as five minutes. Because certain plastics, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, do not chemically bond, they will not adhere to an epoxy.
If you want to stick these plastics together, an acrylic or urethane adhesive will almost always work better. By looking for the recycling triangle, you can tell which type of plastic you’re trying to bond. Epoxy will not work if the triangle contains the letters PE or PP. It’s always a good idea to test small pieces of plastic, regardless of which type you’re using.
There are a few things you should do before mixing and applying your glue to ensure the strongest bond possible.
You don’t want to be paddling in the middle of a lake when that old crack leaks again.
- Clean the surfaces where the epoxy will be applied. To remove any grease or buildup, use dish soap or rubbing alcohol.
- Using sandpaper, steel wool, or a chemical activator, rough up the surface.
- Combine the two parts of your epoxy. Knead the putty if you’re using one.
- Apply the adhesive with masking tape and a small brush if you’re trying to stick to a very precise area.
- Clean any excess epoxy off before it cures because you’ll be chipping away at it with a hammer and chisel once it’s hardened.
- You’ll have the most secure bond if you can clamp the two components together. We held together more tightly your components during cure time, and the stronger the bond will be.
You’ll almost certainly be able to put anything together if you follow this guide.
Epoxies are among the best adhesives available, so use them with caution. You don’t want your five fingers to converge into a single flipper.
Epoxy for Plastic Safety Considerations
The strongest epoxy for plastic is the one that has been planned to be safe for your application. When using the best plastic epoxy, there are several safety considerations and procedures that you should consider. The safety considerations for epoxy adhesives may include:
- Wear gloves to avoid any contact with your skin. Try to also work in a long-sleeved shirt to add better protection for your skin.
- It’s also a good idea to wear protective goggles when working with epoxy adhesives
- Always try to work somewhere with good airflow and ventilation. If the epoxy has a strong odor or powerful fumes, then consider wearing a mask.
- If any of the epoxies end up in your eye, wash the eye out with water and go to a doctor
- Flammability. A flammable adhesive will ignite when exposed to an open flame or spark, while a non-flammable adhesive will not ignite. Both types of adhesives, however, can be ignited by a hot surface or another ignition source.
- Ventilation requirements. Fumes from some types of epoxy adhesives are harmful if inhaled over long periods of time or in small amounts. These fumes can cause irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat in humans and animals exposed repeatedly to the fumes over time; high concentrations may also cause dizziness or loss of consciousness. Using these adhesives, it is important to follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding ventilation, as well as any other precautions, in order to avoid exposure to harmful fumes and vapors from the curing process and from uncured adhesives that have not fully cured (e.g., adhesives that have not reached their full strength).
