Joining Materials

Joining Materials

1. Rivets

   • Permanent mechanical fastener. Consists of smooth cylindrical shaft with head on one end. Doesn’t require specialized processes or equipment to install and cheap. Not aesthetically pleasing when visible.

2. Epoxy resin

   • Very strong, very durable, and very water resistant (dishwasher safe). Can be used on plastics, metal and rubber. Dries clear or amber. Can be expensive.

3. Machine screws FIG 9a

   • Type of fastener, typically made of metal with helical ridge, known as male thread (external thread) or just thread, wrapped around a cylinder. Cheap and variety of sizes available but not very aesthetically pleasing when visible.

4. Plastic rivets FIG 9b

   • Operate by pushing stem of fastener through hole in panel or other surface. Can be fitted blind from one side of panel. Offer more secure fixing. Used in light duty applications in the automotive, industrial and furniture industries

5. Silicone rubber adhesive

   • Strong, very durable waterproof bonds (dishwasher safe), with excellent resistance to high and low temperatures. Can be used on most plastics, rubber (non-slip bottom) and metal and available in black, clear and metallic colours (aesthetically pleasing)

6. Liquid solvent cement

   • Excellent general purpose plastic adhesive for acrylic, butyrate, styrene, ABS, polycarbonate and other plastics. Has water like consistency, so best used by holding/clamping surfaces together. Has long shelf-life and is fast-acting.

7. Tensol cement

   • Dissolves surface layers and then evaporates leaving a joint made from a mixture of the two plastic surfaces. Works with wide range of thermoplastics (eg acryclic) but thermosets cannot be glued by this process either. Strongly joins surfaces together permanently (dishwasher safe)

8. Threading holes

   • In order for something to be joined with a screw a hole has to be threaded first so the screw fits (helical ridge on screw). A tap cuts a thread on the inside surface of a hole

9. Nut and bolt FIG 9c

   • Joins pieces together permanently or temporarily. Designed to take tension, Safe and easy to install- but human touch required to install- slower production time. Offer better joint quality than screw because threads are more tightly controlled. If not sealed after installation, the product wont be water tight – not good if containing water-based food or keeping food fresh.