Question: What alternatives do I have for high-strength bonding to surfaces like polyethylene and polypropylene?
Answer: Cyanoacrylates can be used with special primers to get very high strengths on these low-energy plastics. However, cyanoacrylates are expensive, which normally limits their applications to relatively small bond areas. Two-part acrylic systems have been available for some time and provide good strengths on these plastics, but have been based on the use of methyl methacrylate monomer (the so-called “MMA” adhesives). While being very effective in promoting adhesion, methyl methacrylate has a noxious odor and is quite flammable.