Unlike gluding similar items and surfaces, it’s very difficult to bond 2 things that are made from different materials, especially plastic and metals. Both of them are tough to bond because they are non-porous. However, it’s still possible to glue them together by using one of the best glue for plastic and metal below:
Here are the best glues for plastic to metal you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Machines And Vehicles: J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy
- Easy To Mix: Ballundin Repair Glue
- Best For Jewelry Making: EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy
- Best For Boats And RVs: 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure
- Quick Drying: Sdintar Plastic Glue
- Best For Big Jobs: 3M Neoprene Adhesive
| 6 Best Glues For Plastic To Metal | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Machines And Vehicles | J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy | |
Easy To Mix | Ballundin Repair Glue | |
Best For Jewelry Making | EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy | |
Best For Boats And RVs | 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure | |
Quick Drying | Sdintar Plastic Glue | |
Best For Big Jobs | 3M Neoprene Adhesive | |
Best For Machines And Vehicles: J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy
- Quick to set
- High tensile strength
- Strong and long-lasting
- Easy to mix and apply
- Good price
- Messy to use
If you are looking for glue for machines and vehicles, choose the J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy. This automotive adhesive is formulated to offer high strength of bonding that can withstand stresses and forces. One customer applied this product into his car and proved its high tensile and shear strength.
He can use this glue to bond a snapped part that holds the mirror of his car successfully. It not only won’t budge after the initial setting period but also can keep the bonding last long. After 3 months, it is still attached to the car.
| J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Aluminum(164) |
Compatible Material | Wood, fiberglass, ceramic, plastic, concrete, metal |
Package information | Tube |
Color | Dark grey |
Highlight features | Packed in 2 parts |
The J-B Weld 8276 Epoxy is an automotive adhesive, so it’s strong enough to bond parts of machines and vehicles.
Easy To Mix: Ballundin Repair Glue
- Great price
- Easy to use and grind
- Well-controlled
- Non-sticky
- Strong glue
- Messy
Don’t you want to cause the wrong result when mixing glue? If so, choose the Ballumdin Repair Glue that is easy to mix. 2 parts of other products are packed in 2 separate tubes, which makes you hardly take resin and hardener from 2 tubes with the same ratio. However, this glue is packed in a putter that allows you to extrude A and B paste in a 1:1 ratio more precisely.
| Ballundin Repair Glue Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Metal |
Compatible Material | Glass, plastic, concrete, metal |
Package information | Tube |
Color | Grey |
Highlight features | Heavy-duty High temperature Clear and fast curing A dual-syringe design |
It’s very easy to mix the Ballundin Repair Glue for an exact ratio without needing to measure.
Best For Jewelry Making: EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy
- Super strong after cured
- Convenient to mix
- Odor but low
To create beautiful and durable pieces of jewelry, you need a glue with strong bonding capacity that can produce a transparent finish. The EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy can meet these requirements.
This product’s adhesion is strong enough to bond many delicate jewelry components such as metals, beads, and gemstones because its strength is for up to 1500 pounds per square inch.
Unlike color glues, this unit will dry clear, so it is nearly invisible after the jewelry pieces are complete. This feature is extremely useful when working with transparent gemstones and delicate designs.
Its drying time is 5 minutes, so you have enough time for precise actions and adjustment.
This glue is water-resistant, so the longevity of your jewelry can last when contacting with water.
The fine-tip applicator of this glue allows you to apply it to small and delicate components of jewelry perfectly without causing a mess.
| EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Resin |
Compatible Material | Wood, glass, metal |
Package information | Bottle |
Color | Clear |
Highlight features | Strength: 1,500 pounds per square inch Sets in 5 minutes Dries clear Water resistant |
The EURO TOOL Devcon Epoxy is good for jewelry making because it works well for small and delicate details.
Best For Boats And RVs: 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure
- Strong adhesive
- Water and vibration resistant
- Good price
- Not clear
Why do I recommend the 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure for boats and RVs? This type of glue can withstand the weather and environmental conditions in places where you will use these boats and RVs.
For example, boats must put up with salt water while RVs have to withstand the contact of the direct UVs on the road. Meanwhile, this product is weathering and salt-water-resistant to retain the strength above and below the waterline.
| 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Polyurethane and wood |
Compatible Material | Wood, fiberglass, polyurethane, metal |
Package information | Tube |
Color | White |
Highlight features | Cures fast Strong adhesive Tough polyurethane polymer |
The 3M TALC Sealant Fast Cure can put up with the weather conditions above and below waterline, so it works well for boats and RVs.
Quick Drying: Sdintar Plastic Glue
- Quick to dry
- Good to spread
- Hard to use the second time because the glue glues on the top
The Sdintar Plastic Glue is a quick-drying adhesion. It only takes you about 10-30 seconds for initial solidification, but its effect can last very long.
This option can help you save a lot of effort on your part and time compared to traditional adhesives that require hours to days to cure. There is no need to hold parts together for an extended period, which can minimize your fatigue.
| Sdintar Plastic Glue Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Abs, plastic |
Compatible Material | Plastic, model, acrylic, rubber, metal, wood, glass, jewelry, leather, diy crafts, tube, pvc, abs, pbt, ps, pa, pc, pm, ma, nylon, etc. |
Color | Clear |
Highlight features | 2-3 precision tips for better accuracy Non-sticky Safe and non-toxic Odorless and environmentally friendly |
The Sdintar Plastic Glue can dry quickly. This helps you save plenty of time and effort to wait it dry and hold the parts together.
Best For Big Jobs: 3M Neoprene Adhesive
- Strong adhesion
- Easy to work with and use
- Sticky
If you need to handle big jobs, don’t buy small tubes. Instead, invest in a quart can of glue like the 3M Neoprene Adhesive. Besides, its performance is also high enough for big jobs.
| 3M Neoprene Adhesive Specifications | |
|---|---|
Material | Neoprene |
Compatible Material | Aluminum, stainless steel, steel, and plastics |
Package information | Can |
Color | Gray-green |
Highlight features | High performance laminating contact adhesive Excellent moisture and heat resistance (300°F/148°C) |
The 3M Neoprene Adhesive is packed in a big can, so it can provide you with enough glue to bond many pieces of big jobs.
How To Choose The Best Glue For Plastic To Metal?
Which Types Of Plastic And Metal Do You Need To Bond?
The answers help you determine the compatibility of plastics and metals. Different plastics and metals have varying chemical properties and surface energies, so their adhesion effects are also different. So, you need to determine the specific materials to choose the right adhesive. Below are the good compatibility of some types:
Epoxies or acrylic-based adhesives work well for bonding acrylic (PMMA) and aluminum or steel.
Polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) and aluminum or steel have low surface energies, so it’s hard to bond metals. In this case, you need to invest in specialized adhesives or surface treatments to bond surfaces effectively.
Polycarbonate and aluminum or steel can be bonded by epoxy adhesives.
ABS (Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) can bond to a wide range of metals such as aluminum and steel with epoxy, cyanoacrylate, and other plastic adhesives.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and various metals (aluminum and steel) can be bonded together by using PVC cement or epoxy adhesives.
You can use epoxy or polyurethane adhesives to bond nylon and many metals together.
Polyurethane can bond with aluminum and steel effectively if you use polyurethane adhesives.
PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) can bond with aluminum and steel when using epoxy, cyanoacrylate, or PET-specific adhesives.
What Is Your Purpose?
Some glue types are just formulated for decorative and non-load-bearing applications while others work better for structural application.
If you need to look for glue for load-bearing structural applications, choose one with a bond's high strength and durability that can withstand mechanical stress like epoxy adhesives. Apart from strength and durability, it can resist impact and vibration.
For decorative purposes, you will appreciate the appearance of the adhesives. For example, they should be clear or color-matched to the materials. In this case, you can consider cyanoacrylate that can offer a strong bond for lightweight applications.
Which Brands Make The Best Glue For Plastic To Metal?
J-B Weld
J-B Weld was founded in 1969 in Sulphur Springs, Texas, USA. This brand specializes in manufacturing high-strength and durable adhesives, sealants, and epoxy products. You can use them for a variety of applications from household fixes to automotive repairs.
FAQs
Does plastic bond to metal?
Yes, but the strength and durability of the bond depend on many factors such as types of plastic and metal, the bonding methods, and the specific application.
What makes super glue stick?
Super glue stick is made from cyanoacrylate composition. These molecules are relatively stable when exposed to the air, but there will be a rapid polymerization reaction when contacting with moisture.
This means that individual cyanoacrylate molecules will link together to form long chains of polymers that are so strong and rigid. This process happens quickly (within seconds) and exothermic enough to aid in the fast curing of the adhesive.
What glue works on metal?
Epoxy adhesive is versatile because you can apply it for a variety of metals, especially, it’s okay to use for both structural and decorative purposes. There are 2 parts: resin and hardener which require you to mix them together before applying. This type of glue is durable enough to resist heat, chemicals, and moisture.
The cyanoacrylate adhesive is considered as a super glue because it can create a fast and strong bond for 2 metal surfaces effectively. In some cases, this bond is not as durable as epoxy, so I recommend this type for lightweight or non-load-bearing applications.
Polyurethane adhesive is well known for the flexibility and resistance to impact and vibration, so you can use it to bond things that must withstand movements and stresses. This type is good at bonding metal to metal.
As the name suggests, anaerobic adhesive can provide a secure bond in anaerobic conditions. Specifically, you use it for bonding threaded metal components such as nuts and bolts, even serving as thread lockers and pipe sealants.
Metal epoxy putty is versatile, so you can use it for bonding metal to metal, filling gaps, and repairing metal surfaces.
Metal-filled epoxies have metal fillers, so it provides great mechanical strength for automotive and industrial applications. Normally, people will use it for bonding metal to metal and repairing metal parts.
Structural adhesives (based on acrylics or methacrylates) have a high-strength bonding capacity of metals in structural applications, so this type is commonly applied in aerospace and automotive industries.
Which plastics can be glued?
Thermoplastics
It’s amenable to adhesive bonding thermoplastics because they can be melted and reshaped many times. Below are some of its types:
Polyethylene (PE)
It’s a little hard to bond polyethylene due to its low surface energy. So, choose the polyethylene adhesive containing a bonding agent that can improve the adhesion to low-energy surfaces.
Polypropylene (PP)
Like polyethylene (PE), the polypropylene also has a low level of surface energy which requires specialized adhesives or surface treatment to improve the bonding capacity.
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
This can be bonded by using a wide range of adhesives such as PVC cement, epoxy, and cyanoacrylate (super glue).
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)
You can bond the polyethylene terephthalate by using epoxy, cyanoacrylate, or PET-specific adhesives.
Polystyrene (PS)
The polystyrene allows you to bond it by using cyanoacrylate, epoxy, and other plastic adhesives.
Polyurethane (PU)
You can achieve the bonding of the polyurethane (PU) with polyurethane adhesive, epoxy, or other plastic adhesives.
Acrylic (PMMA)
You can use acrylic adhesive, epoxy or cyanoacrylate to bond acrylic plastics.
Thermosetting plastics
These plastics undergo a chemical reaction in the curing process, so it’s not easy to be melted and reshaped, leading to a challenging bonding.
In this list, the epoxy adhesives can create the strongest and most durable bonds.
Phenolic adhesives are designed for bonding phenolic plastics.
Melamine adhesives can bond melamine plastics.
Will super glue melt plastic?
Although super glue is safe to use on most plastics without melting and damaging them, its effect varies depending on the specific formulation of the super glue and the type of plastic.
However, certain sensitive plastics that experience slight surface crazing or whitening when contacting with the adhesive can cause a cosmetic issue without affecting the structural integrity of the plastic.
Sometimes, if super glue melts your plastic, it can use an excessive amount of super glue.
Conclusion
Can you use any glue to attach a plastic piece to a metal surface? No. Although there are many glue types that are used to bond plastic and metal together, not all of them function the sane. For example, some clear glues can meet the need of beauty purposes while heavy-duty jobs require a stronger adhesion. If not, other elements can break the bond.
