# Polyethelyne Compatable Glue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 20, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734 "2014-12-20T13:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RememberMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/5fc32e/32.png) [@RememberMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RememberMe)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/1 "2014-12-20T13:39:51Z")
Hey folks, I need to attach some closed-cell polyethylene foam mats to a wall. The mats are of the type used for wrestling, MMA, cheerleading, etc. I was thinking of using liquid nails construction adhesive, the kind for foam boards, but it only states that it is compatible with polystyrene. Will this adhesive destroy the mats? Anyone have any other suggestions? ---
**Author:** ![campp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@campp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/campp)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/2 "2014-12-20T13:43:46Z")
Home centers have all sorts of adhesives in tubes. There are some foam insulation glues that might work. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/3 "2014-12-20T14:51:16Z")
Are these going to be up permanently or do they need to come off at some point? ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/4 "2014-12-20T14:56:29Z")
[This Loctite product](http://www.loctiteproducts.com/p/4/2/sg_plstc/overview/Loctite-Plastics-Bonding-System.htm) says it will work on polyethylene. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/5 "2014-12-20T15:01:14Z")
Polyethylene seems a lot less reactive than polystyrene so the tub surround adhesive would probably work. The no more nails tub surround is going to be even milder but it probably dries more brittle. Good ole’ silicone makes a pretty good flexible glue for surfaces like glass and plastics with poor adhesive characteristics. Needs humidity to cure so yo may need to mist it before attaching to wall. Another suggestion would be mirror adhesive. I think with any of these you should do a test patch. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/6 "2014-12-20T15:04:33Z")
Nothing is going to actually bond to the polyethylene in the way other plastics adhesives do. What you can get is something sticky enough that it will not peel easily. So yes, you can use liquid nails type adhesives, but you will be better off with their general construction adhesive than the milder stuff designed for polystyrene. Epoxy, silicone, vinyl caulk, and many other glues and adhesives will work. Since you are working with foam mats you can slice into the foam to give more contact area for the adhesive. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/7 "2014-12-20T15:25:57Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Nothing is going to actually bond to the polyethylene in the way other plastics adhesives do. What you can get is something sticky enough that it will not peel easily. So yes, you can use liquid nails type adhesives, but you will be better off with their general construction adhesive than the milder stuff designed for polystyrene. Epoxy, silicone, vinyl caulk, and many other glues and adhesives will work. Since you are working with foam mats you can slice into the foam to give more contact area for the adhesive. This is almost true. I’m kind of an expert on polyethylene adhesives, since I have a product that is housed one HDPE, and needs to be assembled with adhesives. There are four adhesives that will bond polyethylene to varying degrees (that I know of). They are: 1. Hot-melt glue. The easiest to find, and works really well as long as the temperature is above freezing. It will fail in cold temperatures, though. 2. 3M DP8005 and 8010 low-surface-energy two-part adhesive. Designed for PE. Expensive, but it makes a strong bond. ([PDF](http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/209848O/cj766-uk-dp8005-brochure.PDF)) 3. [This](http://www.innerduct.com/products/hdpe_glue.php) stuff. Haven’t tried it. It’s probably the same as the 3M 4. Reltek Bondit [B46](http://reltekllc.com/productlist/b46adhesivesealant.aspx). This teo-part epoxy cures to a sticky, “Gummy Bear” consistency. It’s always sticky, but it doesn’t etch into the surface of the PE, so it can be pulled apart. I use it for sealing to PE, where it works very well. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/8 "2014-12-20T15:31:17Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > This is almost true. > > I’m kind of an expert on polyethylene adhesives, since I have a product that is housed one HDPE, and needs to be assembled with adhesives. > > There are four adhesives that will bond polyethylene to varying degrees (that I know of). They are: > > 1. Hot-melt glue. The easiest to find, and works really well as long as the temperature is above freezing. It will fail in cold temperatures, though. > 2. 3M DP8005 and 8010 low-surface-energy two-part adhesive. Designed for PE. Expensive, but it makes a strong bond. ([PDF](http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/209848O/cj766-uk-dp8005-brochure.PDF)) > 3. [This](http://www.innerduct.com/products/hdpe_glue.php) stuff. Haven’t tried it. It’s probably the same as the 3M > 4. Reltek Bondit [B46](http://reltekllc.com/productlist/b46adhesivesealant.aspx). This teo-part epoxy cures to a sticky, “Gummy Bear” consistency. It’s always sticky, but it doesn’t etch into the surface of the PE, so it can be pulled apart. I use it for sealing to PE, where it works very well. Good update, I haven’t tried the 3M or Reltek, but I have heard of the 3M so I should have mentioned there are such adhesives. ---
**Author:** ![FluffyBob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecb155/32.png) [@FluffyBob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FluffyBob)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/9 "2014-12-20T16:34:17Z")
Man the dope is awesome. ---
**Author:** ![jz78817](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jz78817/32/1028_2.png) [@jz78817](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jz78817)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/10 "2014-12-20T16:49:55Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > This is almost true. > > I’m kind of an expert on polyethylene adhesives, since I have a product that is housed one HDPE, and needs to be assembled with adhesives. > > There are four adhesives that will bond polyethylene to varying degrees (that I know of). They are: > > 1. Hot-melt glue. The easiest to find, and works really well as long as the temperature is above freezing. It will fail in cold temperatures, though. > 2. 3M DP8005 and 8010 low-surface-energy two-part adhesive. Designed for PE. Expensive, but it makes a strong bond. ([PDF](http://multimedia.3m.com/mws/media/209848O/cj766-uk-dp8005-brochure.PDF)) > 3. [This](http://www.innerduct.com/products/hdpe_glue.php) stuff. Haven’t tried it. It’s probably the same as the 3M > 4. Reltek Bondit [B46](http://reltekllc.com/productlist/b46adhesivesealant.aspx). This teo-part epoxy cures to a sticky, “Gummy Bear” consistency. It’s always sticky, but it doesn’t etch into the surface of the PE, so it can be pulled apart. I use it for sealing to PE, where it works very well. I’m bookmarking this post. Polyethylene and polypropylene are absolute bastards to get adhesives to stick to, and you’ve just solved a few of my problems. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/11 "2014-12-20T17:24:42Z")
At one point, I had to bond Nylon-6 to Polyethylene. Someone pointed me to a chart which specified the glue to use for different materials on each axis. Every intersection had an adhesive - except Nylon to PE! Turns out, there **are** adhesives that work, but they require pre-etching the nylon with really nasty chemicals. I ended up using hot-melt glue, which worked OK (but not great). For plastics that can’t be solvent-welded, sometimes the best that can be hoped for is a “tacky” bond, that will work if the joint isn’t under too much load. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [December 20, 2014, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/polyethelyne-compatable-glue/707734/12 "2014-12-20T17:53:32Z")
I’m pretty sure I learned about [This to That](http://www.thistothat.com/) on SDMB. Great resource!