King StarBoard®, King StarBoard® ST, King ColorCore®, King ColorBoard®, King CuttingBoard® other King Plastic HDPE products can not be glued using standard adhesives.

Products like 3M\’s 5200 work well as a water sealing caulk but will not adhere King StarBoard® to itself or other materials in a permanent structural bond. It is preferable to mechanically fasten or weld King StarBoard®, but when an adhesive is necessary you can use a product called Lord 7542-AB, or 3M\’s Scotch-Weld DP-8005, or opens in a new windowChem-Set™ 6105 Polyolefin Bonder.

We do not represent these products, make any claims about their abilities or accept liability for them.

Lord 7542-AB can be purchased at Wensco online. Phone: 800-253-1569 or 616-785-3333.

If you need to use an adhesion process, make sure you have everything you need for the flame treatment:

  • A sheet of one hundred and twenty-grit sandpaper
  • A cleaning solvent such as Acetone, Toluene or Alcohol
  • A propane torch
  • Your selected adhesive of choice
  • Appropriate clamps to secure the bonded parts without damaging the finish of the King StarBoard® material

Proper surface preparation of your polymer is critical when using adhesives.

  1. First, lightly sand the King StarBoard® surfaces to be bonded with one hundred and twenty grit sandpaper.
  2. Now, clean the surface with a solvent, such as Acetone, Toluene, or Alcohol. Allow solvent to fully evaporate.
  3. Move solvent and other flammable liquids and materials from the work area.
  4. Following the operating cautions of your propane torch, ignite the flame.
  5. Working in a safe and well-ventilated area, hold the torch so the flame is approximately one to two inches or two and a half to five centimeters away and the blue, oxidizing portion of the flame is on the King StarBoard® surface to be bonded. Pass the flame over the surface at a rate of approximately twelve inches or thirty centimeters per three seconds. The total time the material should be exposed to the flame should be two to three seconds, about one-half second per stroke.
  6. This light exposure should not deform or melt the polymer in any way. You may see a “shadowing” effect as the flame passes across the surface, this is normal.
  7. Make sure to let the polymer cool before proceeding.
  8. Test the effectiveness of your flame treatment of the surface by wetting it with water. If the water beads up like on a freshly waxed car, the treatment was not effective. If the water “sheets” or lays flat on the surface, like on an un-waxed car, the treatment was effective and the surface is ready for bonding. If you are unsure if the surface is ready, compare the water\’s action on the treated area with the untreated area.
  9. For the best adhesion, bond the product within thirty minutes of treatment as the flame treatment is temporary and declines in effectiveness with time. If you get interrupted and cannot complete the bonding within an hour or two you should re-treat the surface again before proceeding.
  10. Then, following the instructions from the adhesive manufacturer, apply the glue evenly to the surface in a back and forth motion. Generally, it is recommended to not spread the adhesive all the way to the edge to avoid making a mess.
  11. Apply the pieces to be bonded together, making sure they are positioned correctly, then lightly clamp in place. Ideally, wipe off any excess adhesive that may have squeezed out before it cures.
  12. Let the bond cure for the manufacturer\’s recommended time frame before removing the clamps.

 

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