Superglue and soda: cold welding of automotive plastic
I decided to fix the cracks on the plastic panel of my battered truck using a technology I had seen in videos on YouTube. It is based on the interaction of ethyl cyanoacrylate glue (any superglue from the store) and an alkaline compound (soda). Mixing these components gives a polymerization reaction. The reaction occurs almost instantly, creating a strong connection between the elements in a matter of seconds. The seam resembles hard plastic. Why not “cold welding”?
Required:
- Super glue;
- soda;
- degreaser.
In the nearest chain store I bought two tubes of the cheapest universal instant glue for 35 rubles apiece. At the pharmacy I got hold of an alcohol lotion to degrease the parts being glued together and a pair of gloves to protect my hands.
Progress
The plastic panel has been removed from the part of the cabin where the passengers' feet are located. I don’t know what the passengers of the previous owners of the car did, but the panel is in very poor condition. I haven't been able to find an inexpensive replacement yet, so I'm fixing it myself. In the photo, the white seams show that work has been partially done to remove cracks.
1.I degreased the crack with alcohol on both sides of the part being repaired. To do this, it is convenient to use an art brush (borrowed from a child).
2. Place a thick strip of glue inside the crack.
The sides of the fault were pressed tightly against each other.
3. I ran another strip of glue along the front side of the crack and sprinkled it generously with baking soda, lightly pressing it into the glue with my fingers and brushing off the excess.
I did the same steps on the inside of the panel.
The result was a strong, rigid seam.
In photo 12, the plastic panel looks like a cave wall with a primitive pattern, it was so badly damaged. Using glue and soda, we were also able to securely attach the broken piece of plastic and solder the two parts of the handle as if by cold welding.
Now the plan is to sand the seams and paint the part with dark gray paint for plastic. This will be a different story, but I’m no longer looking for a replacement at the disassembly site.
