PET Bottle Splice Test

[DogLover]

Wednesday I happened to think of how well plastic cement would work to splice bottles. I thought that since plastic cement melts the plastic together, it might produce a stronger bond than a polyethylene based glue. I don't know how this will work yet. I spliced two smaller 8oz bottles together to test it. I plan on testing it tomorrow when I launch my 8 litre rocket. I am hoping this will work. Has anyone else tried this sort of thing? I noticed that the dry time on the package says 4 hours. That sounds like a better turn over time should a rocket need repair.

-DogLover

[U.S. Water Rockets1]

Wednesday I happened to think of how well plastic cement would work to splice bottles. I thought that since plastic cement melts the plastic together, it might produce a stronger bond than a polyethylene based glue. I don't know how this will work yet. I spliced two smaller 8oz bottles together to test it. I plan on testing it tomorrow when I launch my 8 litre rocket. I am hoping this will work. Has anyone else tried this sort of thing? I noticed that the dry time on the package says 4 hours. That sounds like a better turn over time should a rocket need repair.

-DogLover

Be careful with this idea. There are technical risks with this approach. The main consideration is the way that PET bottles are fabricated aligns the molecule chains such that they produce a strong flexible plastic. You can disturb this arrangement with chemicals or heat. If you ever overheated a bottle when shrinking it you would know how you can make the PET very brittle and weak. A glue that melts the plastic could cause it to become brittle and fail.

[Azriel]

Wednesday I happened to think of how well plastic cement would work to splice bottles. I thought that since plastic cement melts the plastic together, it might produce a stronger bond than a polyethylene based glue. I don't know how this will work yet. I spliced two smaller 8oz bottles together to test it. I plan on testing it tomorrow when I launch my 8 litre rocket. I am hoping this will work. Has anyone else tried this sort of thing? I noticed that the dry time on the package says 4 hours. That sounds like a better turn over time should a rocket need repair.

-DogLover

Be careful with this idea. There are technical risks with this approach. The main consideration is the way that PET bottles are fabricated aligns the molecule chains such that they produce a strong flexible plastic. You can disturb this arrangement with chemicals or heat. If you ever overheated a bottle when shrinking it you would know how you can make the PET very brittle and weak. A glue that melts the plastic could cause it to become brittle and fail.

Slow cooling will make it crystallize more, and you end up with strong fibers but weak plastics. A very fast cooling will help the PET maintain some of it's amorphous structure.

[Nick B]

I think model cement will work great.

Modern model/plastic cement is less prone to embrittlement, yellowing and cracking.

Cost in volume was likely a factor for most rocketeers to avoid it and use cheaper products that have longer shelf life, such as Gorilla Glue and PL Premium.

[DogLover]

The particular glue I used failed completely. I might try a stronger glue if I get my hands on it. I am not too sure if it is worth it though. I already know that the PLP works well.

-DogLover

[JPGraphX]

PLP with aircommandrocket tutorial work very very good !! No leak with 120 PSI!