Repair of plastic parts. How to repair plastic in a car Determine the type of plastic

Manufacturers love relatively cheap, malleable and lightweight plastic. And car owners have a reason to love it - details from this material. So, there is no need to regularly go broke to replace damaged parts.

Before we tell you how to fix plastic products, let's pay attention to some of their features. Today, manufacturers use various types of plastics, including ABS plastic, polypropylene, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride and others. They all have different properties, soBefore starting repairs, you must definitely find out what material you are dealing with. Marking to help you - it is on any part. Trying to weld two parts from different plastics will waste your time: joining, for example, polypropylene with ABS plastic will be fragile, and therefore extremely short-lived.

Let's get back to repair and tell you how to fix plastic parts with glue and soldering. Before us is a damaged spare part. Let's get started!

Solution 1: Bonding

This repair method is quite simple. For it you will need, we have dichloroethane, it is the most affordable and perfectly glues ABS plastic. You will also need a brush, preferably synthetic. It is convenient because after the first use, the glued hardened hairs can be cut, and the rest of them can be heated, the hairs will fluff up, and the brush will still serve you.

So, we take a brush, moisten it in dichloroethane, apply it to the parts or parts to be glued - first to one, then to the other. It is better to put the composition in two layers, since the first, preliminary, will begin to actively corrode the plastic ... We apply the parts to each other, press and wait. Dichloroethane dries for quite a long time, up to six hours. With patience, we get the whole part!

Solution 2: Soldering

In fact, there are two ways to weld a plastic part at the site of damage - using a hair dryer and a plastic rod or a soldering iron and a brass or copper mesh. But first, let's talk about the device with which we will carry out the work.

Usually, powerful large hair dryers are used for soldering (they are also called technical ones). But it is inconvenient to work with them: such hair dryers are bulky, heavy and warm up a large surface. That's whywe preferred a simple soldering station with a soldering iron and a light, compact hair dryer. It is inexpensive, around 3000 rubles - the price may vary depending on the configuration. We will not need the solder included in the kit, which is used to repair radio components.

Method 1. Repair with a hair dryer and a rod

We remove the hair dryer from the station. We set the temperature required for soldering ABS plastic to 300 °C. In the course of work, the temperature should be adjusted if the plastic melts too much or, conversely, not enough.

We heat the rod with a hair dryer so that it becomes soft and almost starts to melt, we do the same with the damaged area on the part. The counterpart must be well heated, otherwise the adhesion will be poor, and the resulting connection is fragile. If the plastic of the repaired part swells, then the process is proceeding correctly.

Method 2. Repair with a soldering iron and mesh

To perform this work, we put a flat nozzle on the soldering iron. It is inconvenient to press the mesh with a standard sharp tip. Speaking of her. You can use a brass or copper mesh - large or with a fine mesh structure. A piece of brass mesh approximately 250x200 mm in size costs about 250 rubles. A larger mesh will cost less and can also be used, but be prepared to spend more time.

To begin with, we will level and fix the damaged area so that the surface does not play during the repair process. To do this, we connect the edges of the crack in some places, melting them with a soldering iron, and let them cool. After that, we apply the grid and begin to solder it. We do not have a very powerful soldering iron (about 45 W), so we set the maximum temperature so that the process goes faster.

We begin to sink the mesh into the plastic. It turns out a reinforced surface, neat and quite beautiful. It is convenient to connect cracks in a similar way, for example. The work is easy and relatively simple. The main thing is to make sure that the grid is completely soldered. When everything is ready, let the plastic cool. We check. We've got a pretty solid connection. The surface is slightly wobbly because we haven't fixed the pieces on the outside. To get a more rigid connection, you can solder the rod here, then remove the excess plastic and paint the part.

Repair of plastic parts is a painstaking process, but relatively simple and budgetary. In this case, you can choose the most convenient way to repair and, after spending some time, do not spend extra money.

Often, we need to glue broken or cracked plastic items, from the temples of eyeglasses to the bumper of a car. It may also be necessary to glue a hook in the bathroom or a holder for a garden sprayer. The essence of the gluing process is the dissolution of the surface layer of two workpieces and the formation of a plastic layer from this solution, common to both parts. After hardening, the parts form a single whole, or, as they say, "stick together tightly."

Determine the type of plastic

in order to reliably glue plastic, first of all, you need to find out what kind of plastic the object is made of. Knowing the plastic, you can choose the most suitable adhesive for it.

All manufacturers put recycling symbols on their plastic products - this is the well-known Recycling Triangle - a triangle with arrows on the sides, symbolizing the reuse of materials.

The triangle contains numbers from one to seven. Often the numbers are supplemented by an abbreviation. According to these designations, the type of plastic is determined.

What does the marking on plastic mean?

PET low pressure polyethylene or polyethylene terephthalate. It is mainly used for packing or packaging food products. It is produced in the form of a film, bags or transparent containers for liquid and bulk goods, as well as drinks.
HDPE compacted low pressure polyethylene. It is used for the production of shrink film and packaging bags.
V (PVC) polyvinyl chloride is a non-food plastic used for the manufacture of strong and durable items, such as household buckets, metal-plastic window frames, linoleum.
LDPE High pressure low density polyethylene. It is used in the production of bottles for drinks and dairy products, packaging bags, toys, pipes for cold water.
PP polypropylene. Plastic is not chemically active, heat-resistant (up to 150 °C), is most widely used in the production of medical products, heat-resistant dishes and household utensils, toys, pipes and fittings for hot water, and much more.
PS polystyrene. Also, food grade plastic, disposable tableware, household utensils, and cases of kitchen appliances are made from it. If it is foamed, it forms an excellent porous heat insulator - foam used in everyday life and in construction work.
O Other (other) - materials that are not intended for recycling, for example, with inclusions of metal, paper or other substances). This also includes plastics that do not belong to one of the six groups.

PS - polystyrene

To reliably glue plastic, you need to carefully consider the markings on the product and select an adhesive designed for polymers of this group. There is another way to determine the type of plastic - a small piece of it must be set on fire. Each type burns with a characteristic smell and type of flame. For reliable application of this method at home, you need to gain considerable experience.

Glue marking

Glue tubes are also marked, it's a pity that the notation does not always match the symbols in the triangle on the plastic product. Most often, the following symbols can be seen on the tube:

PC-polycarbonate (used to cover greenhouses and sheds).
ABS is an acrylonitrile copolymer.
PP polypropylene.
PPMA organic glass for general use.
PE is a well-known polyethylene.
PVC is another friend - vinyl, or polyvinyl chloride.
PS - polystyrene.
PA 66 - polyamide.
PUR polyurethane.

If you are not an expert in organic chemistry, then most likely, further study of labeling at home will not be successful. It is better to read in the user manual, which must be attached to the tube, which plastics can be glued with it.

Types of adhesives

The variety of plastics used in everyday life corresponds to an equally wide variety of manufactured compositions and methods of their application.

How to glue plastic

To dissolve the surface layer of the material, it is necessary to destroy the chemical bonds between the molecules. For this, special substances are used - strong solvents. Each solvent is suitable for its own group of plastics, and may not even leave a trace on a material from another group. At the heart of each adhesive composition is such a solvent. In addition, the composition may include:

a hardener that promotes its drying;
filler - dissolved molecules of the substance for which the adhesive is intended.

One of the strongest solvents is dichloroethane. It is used to glue polystyrene and plexiglass.

Depending on the method of application, the funds are divided into several groups:

liquid;
contact;
reactionary;
hot melt adhesives.

Liquid

Liquids are widely used in everyday life, they are easily and simply used at home for gluing plastic with a porous structure. They are available both on the basis of an organic solvent and on a water basis. They are applied to surfaces that are pressed against each other for a time sufficient to evaporate the base. After that, the adhesive layer hardens, forming a connecting seam. PVA glue is a typical example; it can be used to glue not only linoleum, but also wood at home.

Contact

Gluing takes place in two stages:

the surfaces to be glued are lubricated with a thin layer, which dissolves the surface layer of plastic, softening it and facilitating contact with another surface;
after a few minutes, the parts are pressed against each other with force, the softened layers are mixed, the solvent evaporates and a seam is formed.

This is how Moment, BF-2 and others work. They can glue polystyrene and other plastics at home. They contain toxic substances, so you need to work in a well-ventilated area and avoid getting drops on the skin or mucous membranes.

reactionary

One-component reactive agents dissolve the bonded material very quickly and harden just as quickly. These are such well-known brands as Secunda, Superglue and their analogues. The seam is strong and rigid.

Two-component consist, respectively, of two components stored separately from each other:

hardener;
fixer.

The components are mixed immediately before use and applied to surfaces where the mixture hardens to form a joint. The basis is epoxy or polyester resins. The seam at home is very durable. A characteristic feature is that complete hardening takes a long time, and the seam gradually increases both strength and brittleness.

Hot melt adhesives

This group includes substances that exhibit their properties when heated to 110-120 ° C. For application, you need a special glue gun with a heating element. Differs in accuracy of drawing. In addition to plastic, they can glue wood, fabric, paper at home.

How to glue plastic tightly at home

After the type of plastic has been determined and the appropriate substance has been selected, one should:

thoroughly degrease the surfaces to be bonded. To do this, use alcohol, a degreaser or a soap solution (only laundry soap);
to more reliably glue objects, you need to increase the wettability. To do this, treat the surfaces with a velvet file or thin sandpaper;
mix two-component reactive substances only after completion of the preparation of parts;
do not use brushes with natural bristles;
apply enough adhesive so that when pressing the workpieces, the excess does not squeeze out beyond the gluing zone.

The parts should be pressed in such a way as to exclude their displacement in the plane of gluing relative to each other.

How to achieve maximum effect when gluing plastic parts

In order for gluing plastic at home to give the maximum effect, you should:

accurately determine the material and select the appropriate adhesive for it;
carefully follow the instructions for use;
wait the set time for the seam to gain strength and do not try to use the product ahead of time;
for outdoor work or for items used in conditions of high humidity, you need to choose a waterproof brand;
despite the declared heat resistance of the adhesive, the parts themselves may not survive this temperature;
if there is no marking on the product, then you can try to drop a drop of adhesive in an inconspicuous place and see if the material dissolves.

Epoxy glue gives one of the strongest bonds and is compatible with many types of plastics.

What affects the reliability of bonding

The reliability of the seam is affected by a number of conditions. All of them are important, and failure to follow one of them can lead to the fact that the glued at home will fall off, despite the observance of all the others. So:

Compliance of the material of the product and the adhesive composition.
Correspondence of the type of adhesive composition with the magnitude of the forces that the connection will experience. Equally important is the direction of these efforts. So, compounds that give rigid seams are not suitable for repairing, for example, shoes - after all, the sole will bend and twist during operation, despite the fact that the tensile force will be small. At the same time, this composition can successfully glue, say, a hook to glass, and hang tens of kilograms on it.
Compliance with the technology of application. Everything is important here - and how many seconds or minutes it is necessary to compress the surfaces, and how to degrease them, and how much to keep the parts pressed against each other. All this depends on the properties of a particular “plastic-glue” pair, is described in detail in the instructions and must be followed verbatim. A one-second deviation in dwell time or early use of the product may result in secondary failure.
The mechanical part of the process. It is important to thoroughly clean the surface of dust and roughen it. In addition, the direction of pressing the parts to each other must be perpendicular to the surfaces to be glued. It is impossible to allow mutual displacement of parts after pressing - this will also lead to failure.

Gluing plastic tightly is not so easy. Carefully following the simple rules by the home master will allow you to get strong and durable connections. The main thing is not to forget about safety precautions: do not inhale the vapors of the adhesive composition and prevent it from getting into food, on the skin or mucous membranes. In case of accidental swallowing, you should immediately consult a doctor, be sure to take the tube with you.

Plastic is a universal material, but it must be handled carefully and carefully, because its strength closely borders on fragility.

Our workshop offers a full range of restoration and plastic repair any sizes and shapes.

Only professional equipment is involved in the work, which allows you to repair efficiently and quickly in the shortest possible time.

We use a special technology that allows you to restore the surface with high quality. Thus, the product receives the original attractive appearance.

Features of plastic repair

should be carried out by qualified specialists who have all the nuances and skills in the relevant field.

It is important to take into account the details when repairing. For example, polypropylene or polyethylene, the most common types of plastic, have a limited range of temperatures at which they function. It varies from -15 to +120 degrees Celsius.

That is why it is impossible to use cold welding or other adhesive substances in the work.

We work with hot air welding technology, which qualitatively allows you to restore the damaged element.

It is also important to take into account other features of the part, for example, whether pressure arises during its operation. After all, under heavy loads, the soldered seam may not withstand and again become unusable.

Plastic repairs can be done with polymers in several colors, including blue, white, green, gray and black. The repaired part becomes sealed.

What do we offer?

Cooperating with us, you get first-class service at an affordable price. There are two reasons for this: firstly, we have a powerful material and technical base at our disposal, which allows us to independently establish the pricing policy of our work.

Secondly, our specialists have a significant work experience - from 5 years, which allows them to quickly eliminate even the most complex breakdowns.

We work 24 hours, so we can take on repairs within a whole day.

If you have any questions, our consultants will be happy to answer them.

We will also provide you with an online consultation on the topic you are interested in completely free of charge. To contact us, call the number listed on the website.

Repair of plastic has its own price list, the prices of which depend on the degree of damage to the product. We also provide a guarantee for the services provided.

Plastic soldering is a service, the experience of providing which in our workshop is colossal.

Give us a call and we will surely surprise you!

There are a lot of plastic parts in the car. The vulnerability of this material often leads to their breakage. The strength of plastic does not correspond to the high price of such products; it is rather problematic to buy them, even on order. But there is an opportunity to repair the part and completely restore it in our technical center K2.

You should know that the repair of plastic parts in warm weather should be carried out immediately. Due to the fact that at high temperatures it will be much more difficult to give the initial shape to products.

Methods for repairing plastic products

In the manufacture of plastic parts, various types of plastics are used: polypropylene, polyurethane, thermoplastics, thermoplastics, polycarbonate, fiberglass, etc. Different plastic products can receive the following types of damage:

cracks;
dents;
breaks;
scratches.

The repair method is determined by the type of damage and the material of the products. An unmistakable determination of the type of product material is the key to high-quality plastic repair. There are such ways of repairing plastic products:

1. Heating. It is intended for repair of thermoplastic, namely, for elimination of dents on details. Thermoplastics are mainly used for bumpers, headlights and various body parts.

2. Bonding. This method is used to repair thermoplastic and thermoplastic parts. Thermosets (thermosets) are repaired exclusively by gluing and cannot be welded because they undergo irreparable changes during manufacture.

3. Welding. A more common method, thanks to the reliability that has stood the test of time. Thermoplastic parts can also be glued together, but welding will give them greater strength and stability.

Some plastic elements can only be repaired in one way, but there are those that lend themselves to several repair methods at once. For example, you can only repair a bumper by welding.

Plastic Repair Equipment

Compliance with precise technology and the use of specialized tools are important in achieving high-quality plastic repair and in the further restoration of the functionality of the part. Therefore, having determined the type of plastic and the method of repairing it, you should familiarize yourself with the nuances of the repair technology and follow all the rules when repairing.

Not every type of plastic can be welded with a hair dryer, because different types of plastic require different heating temperatures for soldering. For welding some, a high temperature of 500 o C is required, for such a soldering iron is suitable. With improper heating, when the permissible temperature is exceeded, the place of the eliminated defect becomes brittle, and the seams are very noticeable and may soon disperse. Therefore, for some plastics it is better to use a hair dryer, its temperature is lower (about 350 o C), but this is enough.

For the strength of the seams, only high-quality products should be used: various fillers and adhesives, welding electrodes and other equipment.

Purchasing a new bumper is no big deal, but repairing a damaged bumper will save you money and even time. Repairing plastic does not take much time, and this is even if we take into account all the jewelry work. Therefore, it is better to postpone visiting auto markets. It is possible to give a perfect look and restore all functions to products, thanks to high-quality and prompt repair.

Bumper repair step by step:

1. Soldering is done with a specialized soldering iron on both sides of the defective area.

3. The attached mesh is soldered to the inside.

4. A special liquid plastic is applied to the place with a defect located outside.

5. After the applied plastic hardens, the craftsmen thoroughly sand the place of processing.

6. The last steps are priming and painting the bumper.

To reproduce the texture and ornament on plastic products, a plasticizer gel is used. After eliminating all defects, they proceed to painting the part. High-quality work of specialists guarantees the absence of any traces of damage and roughness.

We can restore the original shape of a bumper or other plastic part of a car by soldering, reinforcing and applying a special material designed for plastic repair. However, you should always understand that not every plastic part can be repaired after destruction. In this case, our specialists can offer you a new spare part at a reasonable price.

To repair a plastic thing yourself at home, you need to find out what kind of plastic it is made of. First of all, the technical means suitable in a particular case depend on this. A broken children's toy can sometimes be repaired with a soldering iron, and it is better to glue the radio key with a chemical solvent, a pear essence will restore a celluloid box, and a broken carbolite ashtray with MOMENT OR BF-2 glue.

Despite the huge variety of plastics, they can be divided into two main groups: thermosetting and thermoplastic. The former cannot be softened, melted, or reshaped. In this respect, they are similar to pottery: by no means can a fired clay jug be turned into a flower pot, and vice versa, if they are broken, they can only be glued together. Sockets and plugs, electrical cartridges, telephone and camera housings, and many other products and parts are often made from thermosetting plastics, in particular from carbolite. As a rule, these products are black or brown. Another type of thermosetting plastics, aminoplasts, can be dyed any color, including white. These plastics are used to make dishes, buttons, perfume boxes, clothes clips, etc.

Thermoset products may break or crack if not handled carefully. You can restore them using the MOMENT OR BF-2 or BF-4 glue. It must be borne in mind that strong bonding will only be obtained if the pieces to be joined at the fracture points are impeccably cleaned of dust, dirt, and especially grease and oil stains. Before gluing, the fracture should be thoroughly washed with warm soapy water.

The adhesive is applied to a completely dry surface in two thin layers. The first layer should dry enough so that the glue does not stick to the finger. Then a second layer is applied, dried for 1-2 minutes and the pieces are joined exactly along the break. As with gluing wooden products, the parts must be pressed tightly against each other, putting, if possible, under a press or tied with strong twine (Fig. 1, A). At room temperature, drying under pressure lasts 3-4 days. Do not try to speed up drying by heating the joint, for example over a hot plate, this will only delay drying as a film forms on the adhesive.

Rice. 1. Repair of plastic products: A - gluing products made of thermosetting plastic; B - repair of a product made of thermoplastic plastic using a soldering iron; B - gluing the key with a solvent.

Thermoplastic plastics, unlike thermosets, soften when exposed to heat and dissolve in certain solvents. This group includes, in particular, one of the oldest plastics - celluloid. Stationery pens, rulers, soap dishes, combs, eyeglass frames, film, toys and many other things are made from it. This plastic has considerable strength and good water resistance, but it is extremely flammable. Recently, celluloid (nitrocellulose) has been increasingly replaced by cellulose acetate. The latter is not flammable and at the same time is in no way inferior to nitrocellulose in other properties. Both of these plastics are highly soluble in acetone.

Thermoplastic polystyrene is widely used in everyday life. Cheap and very beautiful haberdashery, vases similar to crystal, colored toilet boxes, brooches, combs, children's toys are made from it. It dissolves well in dichloroethane and chloroform, worse - in acetone. Durable thermoplastic - polyethylene. This translucent milky material can also be dyed. In view of the absolute harmlessness of polyethylene for a living organism, bottles, cups, rinsers, buckets, baby baths, etc. are made from it. Under normal conditions, it does not dissolve with organic substances.

The fact that thermoplastics melt when exposed to heat and dissolve in vigorous solvents is used in repairs. A crack in a polystyrene product can sometimes be repaired with a heated soldering iron: having connected the parts tightly, a soldering iron is drawn along the fracture line, and the plastic is “welded” (Fig. 1, B). Care must be taken to disturb the glossy, smooth surface of the product as little as possible. After welding, the seam is sanded and polished.

A broken celluloid thing is glued with acetone or pear essence, wetting the breaks until the plastic softens. Then the parts are compressed and kept in this state until the solvent has completely evaporated. And if, for example, the band switch key in the radio rebounded, it is enough to drop one or two drops of dichloroethane into the key hole so that it sticks to the switch leg (Fig. 1, B).

By the way, a solution of thermoplastic plastic in a solvent acting on it serves as a good adhesive for this plastic, and sometimes other materials. For example, a solution of celluloid in acetone (celluloid glue) glues not only nitrocellulose, but also paper, cardboard, wood, fabric, and leather. To prepare such glue, 1 weight part of celluloid sawdust is dissolved in 2-3 parts of acetone. Glue must be kept in a vessel with a tight stopper. Celluloid can be obtained by removing the emulsion from film. On sale such glue is known under the name "Hercules".