welding Polycarbonate cracks
welding Polycarbonate cracks
(OP)
Hi
i am reposting this question in the polymer section with some updates.
i have a clear polycarbonate camera housing ( the one you put a professional camera in it and take it deep underwater. its rated to 60m depth ). i found 3 tiny surface cracks each of 2-3 mm long around one of the control glands penetrating the housing wall. i know they're surface cracks because they are not leaking water, yet.
i suspect that the housing got a bang in airport during flight or something or may be its some kind of stress cracks.
i read about using Methylene Chloride in welding polycarbonate but i don't know anyone who actually tried it in similar cases like mien. some people also suggested cyanoacrylate super glue.
what do you suggest to use on these tiny cracks that will fill and weld them permanently and does not introduce more stress cracks over time under seawater pressure ?
i asked the customer support of eplastics.com and he replied by : "We carry a glue called IPS Weldon #3 which works to melt the material together as strong as before. The only problem is that over time you will get more and more stress cracks. The only way to stop that is to drill a very tiny hole at the end of the cracks to relieve the stress, but I know that is not possible in your application. Best bet would be to just glue using the weld on and hoping for the best"
any suggestions ? here is a close picture:
i am reposting this question in the polymer section with some updates.
i have a clear polycarbonate camera housing ( the one you put a professional camera in it and take it deep underwater. its rated to 60m depth ). i found 3 tiny surface cracks each of 2-3 mm long around one of the control glands penetrating the housing wall. i know they're surface cracks because they are not leaking water, yet.
i suspect that the housing got a bang in airport during flight or something or may be its some kind of stress cracks.
i read about using Methylene Chloride in welding polycarbonate but i don't know anyone who actually tried it in similar cases like mien. some people also suggested cyanoacrylate super glue.
what do you suggest to use on these tiny cracks that will fill and weld them permanently and does not introduce more stress cracks over time under seawater pressure ?
i asked the customer support of eplastics.com and he replied by : "We carry a glue called IPS Weldon #3 which works to melt the material together as strong as before. The only problem is that over time you will get more and more stress cracks. The only way to stop that is to drill a very tiny hole at the end of the cracks to relieve the stress, but I know that is not possible in your application. Best bet would be to just glue using the weld on and hoping for the best"
any suggestions ? here is a close picture:





RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
Loctite 1363118 0.85-Ounce Plastic Syringe Epoxy Plastic Bonder available for $5.48 at Amazon.
Dr. Chris DeArmitt
Plastics consultant to the Fortune 500: www.phantomplastics.com
Webinars on plastics, fillers & impact modification: www.plastictraining.com
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
But I guess the epoxy is not water thin so it won't penetrate the crack area. I think I'll try the super glue first. What about the stress crack ? Are they going to stop?
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
Dr. Chris DeArmitt
Plastics consultant to the Fortune 500: www.phantomplastics.com
Webinars on plastics, fillers & impact modification: www.plastictraining.com
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
http://www.exdron.com/Specs/Loctite%20Plastics.pdf
Dr. Chris DeArmitt
Plastics consultant to the Fortune 500: www.phantomplastics.com
Webinars on plastics, fillers & impact modification: www.plastictraining.com
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
How old is this housing? Polycarbonate is prone to hydrolytic degradation. I spent a lot of time working on failures in telecommunications components that failed after time in hot steel outdoor cabinets in humid environments because the moisture reacted with the PC and degraded it. PC can be used in moist applications if it is blended with a stabilizer, but the stabilizers are consumed over time, and don't prevent hydrolysis, they just postpone it. If this housing is old, you might want to replace it, especially considering the cost of what's inside. Chris, your thoughts?
Rick Fischer
Principal Engineer
Argonne National Laboratory
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
the housing is 2 years old and has been in water many times. drilling small holes at the end of the cracks is not really an option for me. but i can take the fittings out and apply the adhesive if this might release the stress and help solve the problem.
what do you think ?
RE: welding Polycarbonate cracks
Dr. Chris DeArmitt
Plastics consultant to the Fortune 500: www.phantomplastics.com
Webinars on plastics, fillers & impact modification: www.plastictraining.com