Identifying the Plastic The easiest way to identify the type of plastic you're working with is to look for the Plastic ID symbol the backside of the part. Simply match the symbol on the part with the table below and look at the suggested repair method. See the next page for tips when you can't find the Plastic ID symbol. PETE PP - polypropylene HDPE - high density polyethylene PS - polystyrene PVC - polyvinyl chloride Resins not mentioned above, or a combonation of plastics. LDPE - low density polyethylene Symbol & Type How to identify Typical Usage Suggested Repair Method Repair Tips
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
Identifying the Plastic
The easiest way to identify the type of plastic you're working with is to look for the Plastic ID symbol the backside of the part. Simply match the symbol on the part with the table below and look at the suggested repair method. See the next page for tips when you can't find the Plastic ID symbol.
PETE PP - polypropylene
HDPE - high density polyethylene PS - polystyrene
PVC - polyvinyl chloride Resins not mentioned above, or a combonation of plastics.
LDPE - low density polyethylene
Symbol & Type How to identify Typical UsageSuggested Repair
Method B w/ urethane rod (5003R1) orMethod C w/ Uni-Weld
covers FiberFlex (5003R10)
On solubility
The following is an incomplete list of the most common plastics used in Nerf and their compatibility with common solvents. A "Y" indicates that the solvent will dissolve the plastic in question. A "N" indicates that the solvent is not recommended for use with that plastic. Either it does not dissolve the plastic at all or does so poorly.
- 1,2 Dichloroethane: Y- Acetone: Y- Cyclohexanone: Y- Dichloromethane: Y- MEK: Y- Methyl benzene: Y- Tetrahydrofuran: Y*Includes PVC in pipe and flexible tube, as well as CPVC as we use it, since our CPVC is simply Copper-sized PVC and not Chlorinated PVC.
On solvents 1,2 Dichloroethane: Also known as Ethylene dichloride. Found in paint removers. Acetone: Found in small quantities in nail polish remover. Also found in various plastic
cements. Also found in acrylic paint thinners and varnishes. Can be bought pure. Cyclohexanone: Found in plastic cement, particularly ABS and PVC pipe cement. Dichloromethane: Also known as Methylene chloride. Found primarily in paint stripper.
Used as an industrial solvent. Banned in Europe. Methyl ethyl ketone (MEK): Also known as Butanone. A large component of almost all
plastic cements especially ABS and polystyrene cement. Can be bought pure.
Methyl benzene: Also known as Toluene. Used mostly as a paint thinner or paint remover. Found along with MEK in polystyrene model kit cement.
Tetrahydrofuran: Found almost exclusively in PVC cement. Can also be in some varnishes.
Plastic cement is generally comprised of a solvent (or mixture of solvents) along with dissolve plastic resin of the plastic in question. Thus PVC cement will contain dissolved PVC along with the solvents.Examples:Genova ABS cement is around 20% Acetone, 60% MEK, and 20% ABS resin.Oatey Green Transition cement is around 40% Tetrahydrofuran, 35% Acetone and MEK, 10% Cyclohexanone, and 15% PVC resin.Look either on the can or search for Material Safety Data Sheets for the ingredients and quantities, and then look up which plastics these will work with.
PLASTICS RECOGNITIONSo that you can recognize which plastic you are dealing with, the following simple test is recommended:
1. A short test weld with the available welding rod. If the welding rod or tape is fixed firmly,the problem is solved.
2. Take a small sliver or shaving of the material to be welded and light it with a match,observe the flame and smell the smoke.On PVC blackish smoke and acrid smellOn Polyethylene no smoke, the material drips like a candle and also smells of waxOn Polypropylene no smoke, the material drips like a candle and smells of burnt oilOn Polyamide no smoke, pulls to form thread, smells of burn hornOn Polycarbonate yellowish sooty smoke. Sweetish smellOn ABS blackish smoke, soot flakes, sweetish smell
The welding rod and tape has the following colors: Welding temperature in °CHard PVC rod grey and red 300°CSoft PVC rod transparent 400-500°CSoft PVC tape grey 400-500°CHard Polyethylene rod black and white 300°C
Hard Polyethylene tape white 300°CSoft polyethylene rod black 270°CSoft Polyethylene tape transparent 270°CPolypropylene rod grey 300°CPolypropylene tape natural 300°CPolymide rod black 400°CPolycarbonate rod transparent 350°CXenoy tape grey 350°CABS rod white 350°CABS tape white 350°C
Because containers, pipes and foils are available in many different colors, it is not possible to judge from the color of an Article from which thermoplastic it is made. Since however 50% of goods are made of types of polyethylene this eases your recognition problem.
If contrary to expectations you have problems when welding, contact the service center at the address
1999-2000 GMC Truck Jimmy/Yukon (full Size) Denali Rear TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin)2005-2009 GMC Truck S15Jimmy/Envoy w/denali model Front TPO or TEO (Thermo Plastic Olefin
E
Repairing Plastics with Two-Part Epoxies Sand backside of area to be repaired with 50 grit paper or coarser. Heavy grooving of the plastic is desirable to maximize the
mechanical strength of the bond. Afterward, sand lightly with 80 grit for finer grooving which will further improve adhesion. If the material is TEO, TPO or PP, you must apply 1060FP Filler Prep Adhesion Promoter. Brush onto the sanded area and allow
to flash off. Apply Fiberglass Reinforcing Tape over the damaged area. If part is SMC, cut a backing panel from a scrap piece of SMC. Make
sure the backing panel extends at least 2" beyond damage in all directions. Choose a two-part epoxy adhesive system to match the hardness of the substrate.
Flexible 2000 Flex Filler 2 (gray)
Rigid 2020 SMC Hardset Adhesive Filler (gray)
Mix epoxy adhesive in equal parts, apply over fiberglass reinforcing tape on backside of repair. Allow 15 minutes to cure before handling. On SMC, apply a bead of 2020 SMC Hardset Filler to the backing panel and press into place. Allow epoxy at least 20 minutes to cure before handling.
Sand frontside of damaged area with 50 grit paper or coarser and v-groove away from tear. The deeper and wider the v-groove is, the stronger the repair will be. Remove paint in the surrounding area and radius into the v-groove with 80 grit in a DA.
Again, if the material is a TPO or PP, apply 1060FP Filler Prep Adhesion Promoter. Mix and apply selected epoxy adhesive. Build up slightly higher than the surface to allow for sanding. Allow at least 20 minutes
to cure before sanding. On SMC, layer pieces of 2043-U Uni-Cloth fiberglass cloth into the v-groove between coats of epoxy. Use a saturation roller if necessary to fully wet the cloth with epoxy.
Contour and smooth the surface with 80 and 180 grit paper.
Repairing Plastics with PlastiFixRigid Plastic Repair Kit
The PlastiFix Rigid Plastic Repair Kit is a revolutionary plastic repair system that allows you to repair cracks, fill gaps, rebuild tabs, and fix stripped threads. The most unique feature of the PlastiFix Rigid Plastic Repair Kit is the FlexMold flexible molding bar. The FlexMold bar allows you to replace a broken tab by forming a mold from an undamaged piece, then casting your new part using the PlastiFix acrylic adhesive system. This system does not work on olefinic plastics like PE, PP, TEO, or TPO.
Getting Ready
Dispense powder into cup Use pipete to dispense liquid into the dropper bottle.
Insert dropper tip into bottle and place applicator needle onto dropper tip.Application
Squeeze one drop of liquid into powder. Pick up liquid/powder mix with tip of needle.
Squeeze bottle to apply liquid/powder mix to repair area.FlexMold Molding Bar Use
Place FlexMold bar in very hot water until softens.
Shape FlexMold bar over pattern. Caution! Very Hot!
When FlexMold bar cools position in repair area
Fill mold with PlastiFix powder/liquid mix, allow to cure, remove moldReinforcing
Cut fiberglass cloth to cover damage on backside.
Cover fiberglass cloth with thin layer to PlastiFix powder.
Saturate powder with PlastFix liquid.
Cover with plastic sheet, press to shape, allow to cure.Repairing a crack with PlastiFix
Sand away the paint surrounding the crack
V-groove along the crack line using a Dremel tools
Smooth out sharp angles with sandpaper
Apply aluminum tape to the backside to prevent PlastiFix from flowing out.
Repairing Stripped Threads
Drill or file threads from hole. Apply lubricant to screw threads
Apply PlastFix powder/liquid mixture to screw threads. While adhesive is wet, insert into hole.