GlueWise
More material pairs

Material pair

Polypropylene (PP) to Polypropylene (PP)

Best bet

Plastic bonding system (primer + CA)

The activator primes PP's waxy surface so the adhesive can grip — the one common product made for this.

Extra prep

  • Wipe the surface clean, then coat both faces with the system's activator pen and let it flash off before the adhesive.
  • Wipe the surface clean, then coat both faces with the system's activator pen and let it flash off before the adhesive.

Not for: Outdoor exposure, Gap or poor fit

Reviewed and adjusted by an editor.

Why this answer

  1. The problem plastic. Its waxy, low-energy surface sheds ordinary glues — epoxy, super glue, and wood glue all peel off. It needs a specialty primer system or a mechanical fix.
  2. The problem plastic. Its waxy, low-energy surface sheds ordinary glues — epoxy, super glue, and wood glue all peel off. It needs a specialty primer system or a mechanical fix.
  3. The primer pre-treats PP's waxy surface so the adhesive can grip — ordinary glues can't.
  4. The primer pre-treats PP's waxy surface so the adhesive can grip — ordinary glues can't.
  5. Wipe the surface clean, then coat both faces with the system's activator pen and let it flash off before the adhesive.
  6. Wipe the surface clean, then coat both faces with the system's activator pen and let it flash off before the adhesive.
  7. The activator primes PP's waxy surface so the adhesive can grip — the one common product made for this.

Preparation

Prep each side differently

Polypropylene (PP)

Wash and dry — then stop: no amount of scuffing makes ordinary glue stick to PP.

Polypropylene (PP)

Wash and dry — then stop: no amount of scuffing makes ordinary glue stick to PP.

Conditions

When the answer changes

Keep the repair indoors and snug-fitting — the system cures brittle and its data sheet rules out exterior use and gaps. A bin that flexes in use wants a plastic weld (a soldering iron) or a replacement instead.

Avoid

What not to use

  • Avoid

    2-part epoxy

    Ordinary epoxy and super glue bead off polypropylene no matter how well you scuff it.

  • Avoid

    Wood glue (PVA)

    Water-based PVA has nothing to grip on a waxy, non-porous surface.

  • Avoid

    Silicone

    Silicone seals against PP but never bonds to it — the bead peels away in one piece.

  • Avoid

    Construction adhesive

    Construction adhesive grabs almost anything except polyolefins — on PP it stays a rubbery strip you can pull off.

  • Avoid

    Contact cement

    Contact cement needs to bite into the surface, and PP's wax layer refuses it — the film lifts off in one sheet.

  • Avoid

    Polyurethane

    Polyurethane foam locks into pores, and polypropylene has none — it cures into a shape that simply falls out.

  • Avoid

    Spray adhesive

    Spray adhesive slides on PP even before it is loaded; the low-energy surface holds nothing.

  • Avoid

    Flexible fabric adhesive

    Fabric adhesive grips a weave, not wax — on PP it peels off with a fingernail.

Products

Products for this joint