Glueing ABS to styrene

[craigolio1]

Plastruct ABS to Evergreen styrene. Can I use my Testors liquid or possible the ABS cement I have in my plumbing kit (which contains MEK)?  I also have CA ( would rather a chemical bond/ weld) and epoxy (takes too long and is messy). Plastruct lists a couple of their own brand that would work but the LHS is out. If they truly are the best though I will wait.

Thanks.

Craig.

[Philip H]

The ABS and CA should do you - my experience is the Testors stuff only works on like or similar plastics.

[Greyryder]

I've used the Testors to glue styrene to ABS before, it seemed to take a lot to dissolve the ABS enough to get a good "weld." That said, the ABS I was gluing to was toy plastic. Never tried it with Plastruct's ABS. I believe Tenax is supposed to work on both plastics, but I've never used it.

[craigolio1]

The LHS is out of Tenax as well. Shioot.

[nkalanaga]

My "local" hobby shop has been out of both Ambroid Pro-Weld and Tenax for over three years now.  They've tried ordering from their distributors (multiple), while I watched, and nobody seems to have them.  Are either of them still being made? 

[bman]

The shop here in town has Tennax.  It seems to be available every now and then.  I know there's an explanation but I don't know it.

[jimmo]

Plastruct makes Bondene especially for bonding both styrene and ABS. The label states "Evaporative formula for bonding styrene to styrene, ABS to ABS and other alike plastic applications." I see no reason why it wouldn't bond styrene to ABS.

Starting with a small rectangle of 3/16 inch grey Plastruct ABS, then took a piece of 1/2 inch x 1 inch x .080 thick Evergreen styrene and attached it on end to the flat surface of the ABS. Using the Bondene it made a pretty solid bond. I don't know what your project is but this bonds as well or better than any styrene to styrene solvent weld.

I also did the same test on using a high shear strength CA to bond styrene to ABS. After letting each set I performed a stress test by pushing on the upright styrene piece until it broke it's bond. Personally, I couldn't tell the difference between the two.

[peteski]

ABS is a type of styrene (that is what the last S stands for).  However there are different grades (slightly different chemistries) of both (poly)styrene and ABS.  Solvent-based cements for each type will usually also dissolve the other type. But since the chemistries are slightly different, the bond will not be as strong as when "welding" pieces made from identical material.

The Plastruct Bondene is not pure solvent cement (put some out on a piece of glass and let it evaporate). The film left behind is some sort of additional bonding agent.

For dissimilar materials like those I prefer using CA glue.

[John]

The LHS is out of Tenax as well. Shioot.

MB Klein still had Tenax a few weeks ago

[DKS]

Methylene chloride should produce a decent bond. You can get it through chemical suppliers on eBay.

[craigolio1]

Thanks everyone. 

It's for a large bridge.  I'm just planning ahead.  I'll likely be using Plastruct ABS I beams across the top , for the track to sit on, and they will be bonded to styrene structures beneath.   I'm in Canada so shipping chemicals from the US doesn't really happen.

I'll take Peteski's advise and just use CA unless the Bondene shows up at my LHS.

Craig

[peteski]

I'll take Peteski's advise and just use CA unless the Bondene shows up at my LHS.

Craig

I might be a bit anal, but I also wipe each piece to be glued with naphtha (to clean the joint areas).  Besides degreasing, naphtha seems to do something to the styrene surface to allow it to take glue very well.

[C855B]

I might be a bit anal, but I also wipe each piece to be glued with naphtha (to clean the joint areas).  Besides degreasing, naphtha seems to do something to the styrene surface to allow it to take glue very well.

Hmm. Probably very similar action to purple primer for PVC.

[craigolio1]

I might be a bit anal, but I also wipe each piece to be glued with naphtha (to clean the joint areas).  Besides degreasing, naphtha seems to do something to the styrene surface to allow it to take glue very well.

Good idea.

[sirenwerks]

I might be a bit anal, but I also wipe each piece to be glued with naphtha (to clean the joint areas).  Besides degreasing, naphtha seems to do something to the styrene surface to allow it to take glue very well.

What, like Coleman camp fuel?