> Date: Fri, 16 Feb 2001 18:10:40 -0500
> From: Yuri Huta <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>
> Will some type of silicone or latex caulking work in place of the
> seemingly more nasty stuff? or do you need a very specific bonding agent
> for acrylic?
Silicone and similar don't make a very strong bond with acrylic. You could
use it for something that wouldn't experience a lot of load or stress, but
not for something that has to e.g. hold a significant weight of water, or
might experience twisting motion. If you do use silicone, be sure to avoid
the formulations for bathtubs and similar, as they usually have fungicides
which can be pretty toxic. To be sure, get the kind that says on the label
that it is ok for aquariums.
The solvent used to bond acrylic actually dissolves the plastic and
welds the pieces together when it evaporates. It's very volatile,
and once it evaporates, it's gone, so you don't have to worry about
residual toxicity. It's a good idea to use it with adequate ventilation,
of course.
Interesting note about plexiglas (brand name for acrylic plastic): 3mm
of plexi absorbs only 12% of UVB, so it's not too bad for cage covers.
You can get 2mm thickness too, and it's fairly rigid. I got some 2mm
recently, and will experiment to see over what span it will be self-
supporting, with and without stiffening strips.
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