Plastic Solvent Welding

Solvent-welding plastic involves using a solvent to partially liquefy plastic along the joint and
allowing the joint to solidify causing a permanent chemical weld. It is similar in end result to
heat welding metal or thermoplastic. Welded joints have an advantage over other adhesives
in that there is no third material creating the joint.
The process of solvent welding is simple. Apply solvent to the pieces you want to adhere,
push the pieces together (not necessarily in that order), and then wait for the solvent (they are
all very volatile) to evaporate into the environment and the polymer strands of the plastic to
solidify. The most difficult part is thus finding solvents that will dissolve the plastic in question.
A cement is not the same as a solvent. Plastic cement is generally comprised of a solvent (or
mixture of solvents) along with dissolve plastic resin of the plastic in question. Thus ABS or
PVC cement will contain dissolved ABS or PVC along with the solvents.
Examples:
Genova ABS cement
Oatey Green Transition Cement
Acetone
20%
Tetrahydrofuran
40%
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
60%
Acetone
35%
ABS resin
20%
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
35%
Cyclohexanone
10%
PVC resin
15%
Plastic Welding Solvents
Acetone: Found in nail polish remover, various plastic cements, and in acrylic paint thinners
and varnishes. Can be bought pure.
Cyclohexanone: Found in plastic cement, particularly ABS and PVC pipe cement.
1,2 Dichloroethane: Also known as Ethylene dichloride. Found in paint removers.
Dichloromethane: Also known as Methylene chloride. Found primarily in paint stripper. Used
as an industrial solvent. Can be bought pure. 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.
Toluene: Also known as Toluol or Methyl benzene. Used mostly as a paint thinner or paint
remover. Can be bought pure. Found along with MEK in polystyrene model kit cement.
Tetrahydrofuran: Found almost exclusively in PVC cement. Can also be in some varnishes.
Safety Warning: most of these solvents are toxic. Do not inhale them, especially deliberately.
Use in a very well ventilated area. They are also highly volatile and thus flammable. Keep
away from open flames. Do not smoke while applying solvents.

Plastic Solvent Cements

Ambroid ProWeld Solvent Cement
Ingredient
Methylene chloride

Evaporation Rate = 27.5

%
100

SC-125 Acrylic Solvent Adhesive

Ingredient
Methylene chloride

Evaporation Rate = 27.5

%
100

Tenax-7R Plastic Solvent Welder

Ingredient
Methylene chloride
IPS Weld On #3 Cement
Ingredient
Methylene chloride
Dimethyl glutarate
Methyl methacrylate monomer
Plastruct Plastic Weld Solvent Cement
Ingredient
Methylene chloride
Methyl ethyl ketone
IPS Weld On #4 Cement
Ingredient
Trichloroethylene
Methylene Chloride
Methyl methacrylate monomer
Plastruct Bondene Solvent Cement
Ingredient
Methylene chloride
Methyl acetate
Tamiya Cement
Ingredient
Butyl acetate
Acetone
Polystyrene resin
Cyclohexane
3-methoxy-3-methylbutyl acetate
Skyward Solvent Cement
Ingredient
Acetone

Evaporation Rate = 27.5

%
~100
Evaporation Rate = 24.0
%
80-95
1-15
1-5
Evaporation Rate = 20.6
%
80-90
5-15
Evaporation Rate = 18.3
%
40-60
30-60
<1
Evaporation Rate = 16.5
%
30-60
30-45
Evaporation Rate = 7.3
%
40
40
11
7
2
Evaporation Rate = 5.6
%
100

Pactra Liquid Solvent Cement

Ingredient
Ethyl acetate
Methyl ethyl ketone
Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate

Evaporation Rate = 4.4

%
35-40
35-40
35-30

Model Master Liquid Solvent Cement

Ingredient
Ethyl acetate
Methyl ethyl ketone
Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate

Evaporation Rate = 4.4

%
35-40
35-40
35-30

Testor Liquid Solvent Cement

Ingredient
Ethyl acetate
Methyl ethyl ketone
Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate
Allyl Isothiocyanate

Evaporation Rate = 3.7

%
35-40
35-40
26-30
< 0.5

Tamiya Extra Thin Solvent Cement

Ingredient
Butyl acetate
Acetone

Evaporation Rate = 3.3

%
50
50

Testor Quick Dry Liquid Solvent Cement

Ingredient
Xylene
n-Butyl acetate
Ethyl benzene
High boiling -Aromatic hydrocarbon

Evaporation Rate = 2.3

%
45-50
20-25
10-15
5-10

The evaporation rate is indicated by relative numerical values. These rates are established by
supposing the evaporation rate of one solvent to be 1 and by indicating those of other
evaporating solvents as multiples of this rate. Ether or normal Butyl acetate are generally
used to be 1. The larger the value the fast the cement will evaporate.
A cement contains dissolved plastic while a solvent cement does not. Compare Plastruct
Plastic Weld Solvent Cement with IPS Weld On #3 Cement the Methyl methacrylate monomer
is the plastic.

PVC Pipe Cleaners

PVC pipe cleaners, not glues, will function as solvent cements for almost all modeling
materials. They are relatively cheap, compared with hobby shop prices. Pint ~6$
Oatey Clear PVC Solvent Pipe Cleaner
Ingredient
Acetone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Evaporation Rate = 7.7 11.0

%
40 80
40 70

Oatey PVC Solvent Pipe Cleaner

Ingredient
Acetone
Tetrahydrofuran

Evaporation Rate = 5.5 8.0

%
40 80
40 70

Spears PVC Pipe Cleaner

Ingredient
Acetone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Cyclohexanone

Evaporation Rate = 5.4

%
60 90
6 16
2 14

E-Z Weld PVC Solvent Pipe Cleaner

Ingredient
Acetone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone

Evaporation Rate = 4.7

%
2 98 %
2 98 %

IPS C-65 PVC Solvent Pipe Cleaner

Ingredient
Acetone
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Cyclohexanone

Evaporation Rate = 4.5

%
60 90 %
4 15 %
2 15 %

Plastic Welding Chart

Acrylic
ABS
Delrine
polymethyl
Acrylonitrile Polyacetal
methacrylate butadiene
POM
Styrene
Acetone
Y
Y
N
Methylene chloride
Y
N
N
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Y
Y
Y
Toluene
Y
N
Y
Solvent

Acetone
Methylene chloride
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Toluene

PEX
LDPE
Cross-linked Low density
low density polyethylene
polyethylene
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
Y
N
PET
PETG
Polyethylene Copolyester
terephthalate Polyethylene
terephthalate
glycol
Y
Y
Y
Y
N
Y
N
Y

HDPE
High density
polyethylene

UHMW
Ultra high
molecular

Nylon*

Polycarbonate

Y
N
Y
Y

N
Y
N
Y

N
N
N
N

Y
Y
Y
Y

PVC
polyvinyl
chloride

CPVC
chlorinated
polyvinyl
chloride
Y
Y
Y
Y

Polypropylene Polystyrene

Acetone
Methylene chloride
Methyl Ethyl Ketone
Toluene

Butyrate
Cellulose
acetate
butyrate
Y
Y
Y
Y

Y
Y
N
Y

Y
Y
Y
Y

Y
Y
Y
Y

Teflon*

These solvents may be obtained in quart or greater quantities at your local box stores.
* Can be roughed and bonded with epoxy resin glues.

N
N
N
N