Is there a silicone that will bond to acrylic?

[waytoodeep03]

I have a tank that has some white spots in the seam at different places in the tank and just as a precaution I wanted to reinforce the tank.

I went to my local plastic shop and he said run a bead of silicone along the edges to seal up any leaks that can occur. To my knowledge I thought silicone doesnt bond well with acrylic, Or does it?

Here is a picture of a white spot

 

[brianp]

My understanding is also that silicone will not adhere strongly to acrylic. However, if the silicone is merely being deposited to serve as a barrier against leakage and does not have to bear any load or pull, you can use it to form such a simple barrier on acrylic (I have done this). The better method, is to go to TAP Plastic and acquire methylene chloride or other acrylic adhesive and one of those plastic bottles with the needle at the end. The needle is used to deposit the adhesive at the corner or seam, and it then moves between the two surfaces via capillarly action. The adhesive will melt and fuse the two acrylic surfaces. Be careful when applying...might want to practice first.

 

[heavyhitter]

acquire methylene chloride or other acrylic adhesive and one of those plastic bottles with the needle at the end. The needle is used to deposit the adhesive at the corner or seam, and it then moves between the two surfaces via capillarly action. The adhesive will melt and fuse the two acrylic surfaces. Be careful when applying...might want to practice first.

^ this is your answer

 

[wow_it_esploded]

.

 

[aldiaz33]

BrianP gives good advice. The stuff he's talking about is called Weld-on 3 at the plastic shops in my area. If you want to reinforce the seam further, you can use weld-on 16 on the inside seams of the tank. From what I understand, this product actually contains acrylic in it (it's not just the chemical that "welds" the acrylic like in the weld-on 3 product). Use the weld-on 16 on the inside of the tank and the weld-on 3 on the outside. If there really is separation between the acrylic where it's white/cloudy, then the capillary action that BrianP mentions will basically suck the weld-on 3 right into that cavity. Like Brian said, be careful not to spill any of this stuff on the viewing panels of your tank.

It's a shame you're in FL because all you probably need is a few drops. I would hook you up with some of you were closer.

 

[johnptc]

dow 832 silicone

 

[snake_charmer]

John, so your saying to use the dow832 silicone? I'm looking at a 450g acrylic right now that needs the overflow area resealed and was wondering if I could use the dow832 stuff on it.

 

[johnptc]

John, so your saying to use the dow832 silicone? I'm looking at a 450g acrylic right now that needs the overflow area resealed and was wondering if I could use the dow832 stuff on it.

the preferred method for gluing acrylic to itself will be a solvent glue such as one of the weldon products..........they come from water thin to gooey

i have used dow 832 silicone on all my monster tanks to bond acrylic to other materials. it forms a very strong bond to the acrylic.

done right means light sanding of the acrylic and a primer.....the bond is exceptionally strong