Bonding HDPE is a hassle if you don’t have the right equipment.

I’m talking about a good adhesive that stays bonded in hot and cool weather when subjected to impacts, shocks, and solvents.

This article will give you the five best adhesives for bonding HDPE!

I’ll also give you a complete guide on using glue to high-density polyethylene steel to other materials, how to do it safely, and what you can expect from each glue.

After you read this article, you’ll have everything you need to start working with HDPE and bond it to anything you want.

Keep reading for more information on HDPE bonding!

Types of Glue for HDPE

If you want to bond HDPE, you need to choose the right glue, and there’s a wide variety of adhesives.

Some are great in specific circumstances, while others are a bit worse but are very versatile.

You’ll need to choose the adhesive based on your needs and how you want to bond the materials.

Hot glue or epoxy, for instance, are more versatile than other adhesives. They have different properties that may aid in multiple bonding situations.

Overall, you can choose between the following types of glue for HDPE:

Hot Glue

Hot glue is a great adhesive that won’t corrode or affect the HDPE sheets.

It can also bond to materials like rubber, plastic, copper, aluminum, and more. Hot glue is a great glue for rubber.

This means you can use HDPE for many indoor and outdoor applications.

Hot glue will dry incredibly quickly, so you won’t have too much working time with it.

Polyurethane glue, on the other hand, dries slower and will give you that extra time to fix your mistakes and reposition the materials.

Super Glue

Super glue is extremely strong and has near-instant setting times. It can grip any type of metal, including HDPE.

Its low surface tension and high shear strength make it ideal for bonding HDPE.

Loctite and Gorilla are two of the most popular super glue brands.

Super glue enters a chemical reaction when applied to a material. It fuses its molecules with the material and forms a permanent, tight bond that won’t break in time.

Super glue is also no-drip, making it easier to apply than other adhesives. It also insta-bonds to anything!

Check out our super glue vs. hot glue comparison guide to learn more about these two types of glue.

Epoxy Resin

Using epoxy adhesives for HDPE is only logical. You can fill gaps or cover any imperfections in the HDPE using epoxy adhesives.

This type of glue is strong, durable, highly resistant to water, high temperatures, impact, and solvents, and extremely versatile.

It’s one of the best types of glue in the world, according to professionals.

Polyurethane Glue

This type of glue is a good-for-all, durable and flexible solution.

You can use polyurethane glue when your project needs to be flexible, like when the individual pieces need to remain moveable throughout time.

Polyurethane glue is also resistant to water, even if submerged under it.

Best Glues for HDPE

Here are my recommendations for the best glue for HDPE.

1. Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Fix

Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Fix is strong and durable, making it perfect for bonding HDPE to other materials.

It’s not the strongest glue out there, and it may not work well for very weighty applications, but it works for most HDPE applications.

Its rigidness once dry and cured means you can’t use it for an application that needs to remain flexible.

However, the bond is as strong as solid plastic and is resistant to corrosion, impacts, water, and high temperatures.

It’s one of the best heat-resistant glues around.

It’s not fully waterproof but won’t dissolve if exposed to water.

Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Fix sets quickly and is very easy to use. Just follow the instructions, and you should be fine!

The self-dispenser helps you avoid making a mess during the application, ad it’s completely harmless to humans.

This glue can also function as a glue for PLA.

2. J-B Professional Steel Reinforced Epoxy

J-B Professional Steel Reinforced Epoxy is user-friendly and gives you plenty of working time.

While it does set fairly quickly, you’ll have enough time to reposition the materials if needed.

The resin and hardener need to be mixed manually, though. Once you’re done, apply it through the syringe, and it’ll set and cure in a few hours.

This adhesive works for various applications and materials, including upholstery, wood flooring, metal railing support, windowsills, and more.

You can use it for small and large surfaces without a problem.

It also works great for filling gaps, though it’s difficult to clean if you apply it wrongly.

It takes a long time to harden and cure, but the setting time is fairly quick. Its shear strength is also among the best on this list.

Lastly, you should take serious precautions when using J-B Professional Steel Reinforced Epoxy because it can cause serious eye damage and skin irritation and is very harmful if ingested.

It can even cause skin allergies and is very toxic to aquatic life.

J-B Steel Reinforced Epoxy works great on heavyweight materials and industrial applications due to its high strength.

You can use it as an alternative to professionals’ EIFS bonding agents for commercial building construction.

3. Gorilla Super Glue Gel

Gorilla is one of the best glue brands in the world. Its original formula has high strength, sets very fast, and is easy to use.

You’ll only need a few swipes on your materials, and that’s it. You shouldn’t worry about wasting hours learning how to use it.

Moreover, it can bond fabric, metal, plastic, PVC, metal pipe joints, wood, and ceramic without problems.

Gorilla Super Glue Gel is also a great glue for fabric to plastic and works as a glue for plastic eyeglass frames.

The bond is permanent and lasts 10 times longer than other glues in its category.

It’s 100% waterproof and highly resistant to high temperatures and impacts.

After application, Gorilla Glue will expand up to 3 times to form a strong bond that remains durable throughout the years.

However, the glue is also difficult to remove, so take precautions when using it. Naturally, it’s toxic to the touch and if ingested.

It can cause irritations, damage to your eyes and skin, and even respiratory irritation.

4. Loctite Super Glue Gel

Superglue on this list can only mean one thing – super strength, durability, and near-instant setting.

Loctite Super Glue Gel sets in approximately 10 seconds and uses a no-drip concept to make it easier to apply.

It comes in a convenient gel form that can be applied on almost any material, including fabric, metal, ceramic, cardboard, paper, cork, rubber, hard plastics, polystyrene, leather, polycarbonate, and PVC, chipboard, wood, and more.

This is one of the best polycarbonate glues and works as glue for glass to plastic.

Once dry, it remains transparent, so you won’t even know it’s there!

However, Loctite Super Glue Gel does tend to stick to your fingers if you’re not careful. Use gloves and a breathing mask when working with it, as well!

Loctite Super Glue Gel is also extremely resistant to water, extreme temperatures, and the most known solvents.

Even if it’s freezing outside, Loctite Super Glue Gel will withstand almost anything and keep a tight bond on your materials.

5. Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks

Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks have high tensile strength and a fast setting time.

Naturally, this glue is classified as a quick-setting adhesive that creates a super strong and durable bond for HDPE.

The hot glue stick concept makes it easy to mix and apply it to any material, including HDPE.

After you’re done with it, you can seal it with the cap and store it somewhere safe.

It doesn’t need to be in the fridge to retain its usability.

Its curing time stretches to 4-6 hours, which is quite good considering this is an epoxy we’re talking about.

As always, I recommend using a mask and gloves and avoiding contact with skin when working with J-B Weld Epoxy.

It’s a toxic adhesive that can cause skin and eye irritation, burn your skin, and even cause allergies.

Lastly, Gorilla Hot Glue Sticks are resistant to high and low temperatures, water, and solvents.

It also boasts a good working time, making it convenient to repair your mistakes.

What Is HDPE?

HDPE stands for high-density polyethylene, and it has low moisture absorption.

This means the material is very resistant to corrosion and weather damage.

Most professionals use HDPE in construction work because it’s a very durable and affordable material.

There’s also LDPE (low-density polyethylene) with a lower density but lesser durability and is more susceptible to being broken.

HDPE is a better option for construction work than LDPE! You can use it to build water distribution, irrigation pipes, and more.

How To Glue HDPE

I’ll explain how you can bond HDPE using hot glue, super glue, and epoxy resin.

While all three processes have many things in common, the adhesives are different, so you’ll need to adapt some things.

For hot glue, do this:

• Clean the materials with a paper towel or a cloth
• Place one piece of HDPE on top of the other and align them close to one another
• Clamp the two pieces together to remove air bubbles. Once there are no more air bubbles, use the glue gun to pour adhesive along the edges, then press tightly
• Give it 15 minutes to dry before you touch the glued surface

For super glue, do this:

• Clean the materials using alcohol or acetone to remove dirt and residues from the surface. The HDPE pieces need to be thoroughly cleaned before you apply the adhesive
• Apply a thin layer of super glue on one surface at room temperature
• Don’t get too close to the edges of the materials because you could cause a nasty chemical reaction. Only a few drops will be enough
• Wait for 60 seconds for the glue to dry, and then align the two pieces together, holding them there for 30 seconds
• If one layer of glue isn’t enough for your application, apply more layers on top of the previous ones
• Let it dry for 24 hours before you handle the HDPE pieces

For epoxy resin, do this:

• Mix the hardener and the resin by adding them into a container and stirring continuously
• The mixture should become cloudy and lumpy if mixed thoroughly
• Add another four parts of resin while you keep stirring, and after that, add the last two parts of the resin while you stir, and then pour the mixture into a container with a funnel.
• Wait for an hour before you use the mixture.
• Now apply it to one piece of HDPE, then clamp the two pieces down

That’s about it! You now know how to use hot glue, super glue, and epoxy resin to glue HDPE safely and efficiently.

Drawbacks of Epoxy Resin

The epoxy resin may be a great choice for HDPE thanks to its added durability, strength, and resistance to hazards, but it also has drawbacks.

For one, epoxy resin is only good when both HDPE pieces have a similar thickness.

If one of the pieces is much thicker than the other, the bond may not last.

Unlike superglue, epoxy resin doesn’t set or cure instantly. It needs 24 hours to cure and be set fully.

So, before that time passes, you shouldn’t touch the bond no matter what. If dirt gets into the bond, it’ll ruin its rigidness and durability.

Some types of epoxy resin may not be strong enough for your HDPE requirements. Same for epoxy glue.

Hot glue or super glue may be more useful if your application is weighty and needs a super strong grip.

You want to ensure that there aren’t any gaps between the HDPE pieces, either way.

Related guide: Super glue vs epoxy

Wrap Up

When working with HDPE, you need to know that glue is a much better option than screws or nails.

It’s more efficient, easier to use, and you won’t waste as much time applying it.

I recommend Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Fix due to its high strength, durability, and resistance to hazards.