Polypropylene is one of the most common plastic materials.

You can find it anywhere, from machinery parts to electrical equipment and even textile materials.

It’s also one of the most challenging plastics to work with. Compatible adhesives are few and far between.

But this article will find the best glues for such applications.

Polypropylene is very hard plastic. On top of that, its smooth texture and extreme resistance to heat and solvents make adherence difficult.

As a result, regular glues can’t form strong or tight bonds to keep polypropylene surfaces together.

For strong and resistant bonds, you’ll need specialized, high-performance glue.

Keep reading for more information on high-strength, high-performance polypropylene adhesives, how to use them, and the precautions you need to take!

Polypropylene Explained

Polypropylene is a synthetic thermoplastic polymer. It’s among the cheapest plastics manufactured today, and it first originated as a waste product of oil and gas production facilities.

Typically, polypropylene is polymerized from propylene gas with the help of a catalyst system.

It has different characteristics when compared to soft, low-density plastics like polyethylene.

Polypropylene has a very high chemical, temperature, and fatigue resistance.

It’s also a tough material and highly resistant to electricity, which is very useful in certain circumstances.

Given its qualities, this plastic commonly occurs in electronic and medical components, automotive parts, insulation sheets, outdoor furniture, toys, packaging, and more.

Read more in our guide on the best plastic for plastic toys.

However, one major downside of polypropylene is its tough and smooth surface.

It’s one of the most difficult plastics to bond because its texture doesn’t lend itself well to most types of glue.

Even most multi-purpose glues that work on softer plastics can’t properly adhere to polypropylene.

Suitable Glues for Polypropylene

There are many adhesives for plastic out there, but only a few work well on polypropylene.

For the best results, consider the following types of glues. Each has perks, so the choice ultimately depends on the application and your preferences.

Polypropylene Adhesive

This choice is a no-brainer. If you need to bond polypropylene pieces together, the most obvious choice would be polypropylene adhesive.

This plastic glue is designed to work on hard and smooth plastics.

It bonds surfaces together in seconds and has a strong, long-lasting hold.

Most polypropylene adhesives are also water and mildew resistant, which is great if you need to fix plastic pieces that come into contact with water.

Most polypropylene adhesives dry clear, and this is another big bonus if you need to fix transparent plastics or visible surfaces.

Polypropylene adhesives can be formulated as two-part glues. In that case, you’ll have to mix the components carefully for the best results.

However, there are also many simple polypropylene types of glue that you can just apply straight out of the tube.

Hot Glue

Hot glue is too strong for most heat-sensitive plastics but could be a good choice for polypropylene applications, particularly if you use thick material.

This glue has great adhesion to smooth materials such as treated polypropylene, polyethylene, ABS, metal, or vinyl. This is why we recommend it as one of the best glues for vinyl.

Besides its high material compatibility, hot glue is also extremely easy to use.

With the help of a glue gun, you can apply this adhesive quickly, mess-free, and its consistency even allows for smooth vertical applications.

Hot glue has a short working time, and it sets pretty quickly. It also has decent humidity, water, solvent, and temperature resistance.

However, it’s worth noting that this glue doesn’t have the best weight-bearing capabilities, so it’s best used for either small or light-weight applications.

Super Glue

Super glue has many perks, making it a popular choice for various applications.

Most super glues dry clear and are also sandable and paintable. Most importantly, super glue has a very short working time and instantly bonds to the surface.

Superglue has decent water and impact resistance, depending on its formulation.

This type of glue can also come in different viscosities.

Thicker super glues are great for vertical surface applications, while thinner super glues work well for filling in gaps and cracks.

Super glue is also compatible with multiple materials and surfaces, including smooth ones like metal, glass, and plastic.

However, not all super glues are suitable for hard plastics like polypropylene.

You should look for super glue formulas that specify hard plastic compatibility.

Unsuitable glues include wood glue, rhino glue, hot melt glue, and epoxy glue.

Best 5 Glues for Polypropylene

Here are my recommendations for the best glue for polypropylene.

1. Loctite Super Glue Plastics Bonding System

The Loctite Super Glue Plastics Bonding System is a highly versatile two-part glue that requires no mixing.

This product is compatible with porous and non-porous materials, including hard plastics like polypropylene, polycarbonate, PVC, and Plexiglas.

This is why it’s one of the best glues for polycarbonate.

You can use it to bond polypropylene to other hard plastics and metal, rubber, fabric, ceramic, leather, wood, and more.

Even better, this adhesive dries completely clear. Exactly what you need for a subtle finish!

This glue is guaranteed to repair any plastic in seconds.

The short setting time and its neat and easy application make this product easy to use and highly effective.

All you have to do is apply the primer to the polypropylene surface.

The glue itself goes on second without any mixing. After both layers are on, you clamp the materials together and wait for the glue to set.

Compared to other two-part adhesives on the market, this no-mix formula makes it nearly impossible for things to go wrong.

2. J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder

The J-B Weld 50139 Plastic Bonder is a multi-purpose adhesive and gap-filling system.

This two-part urethane adhesive is compatible with all materials, including thermoplastics, thermoset, carbon fiber composites, hard plastics, PVC, fiberglass, coated metals, aluminum, ceramic, and more.

It’s a great glue for aluminum and ceramic repair.

The functional syringe design makes this adhesive very easy to use. You’ll always get the perfect 1:1 ratio of resin and hardener.

The recipient also comes with a re-sealable cap that prevents the glue components from leaking or drying and extends the adhesive’s shelf life.

This adhesive is quick setting and forms powerful bonds. After thorough mixing, the glue sets in just 15 minutes.

However, it has a very long curing time of up to 30 hours. This product cures black and forms long-lasting bonds with extreme tension resistance of 3770 PSI.

Given its color, it’s best used for non-visible surfaces or dark plastics.

3. 3M Scotch-Weld Structural Plastic Adhesive

This simple glue is a great alternative to other two-part adhesives on the market. You won’t have to worry about mixing.

All you have to do is squeeze the glue out of the tube, apply it to the working surface, and clamp the materials together.

Thanks to its quick setting time, you’ll be done in as little as 3 minutes. Another great advantage of this glue is its medium viscosity.

You’ll get good dispensing control, and the adhesive remains easy to spread.

This glue is compatible with all non-porous plastics, including LSE plastics and thermoplastic composites.

You can also use this adhesive to bond rubber to metal.

There’s little to no surface prep needed, as this glue has excellent adherence to smooth surfaces.

It dries very quickly and forms very strong and durable bonds. The glue is resistant to humidity, water, chemicals, and corrosion when fully cured.

However, this glue cures off-white, which could be noticeable if used on very dark plastics.

4. Permatex 84115 5-minute Plastic Weld Adhesive

The Permatex 84115 5-minute Plastic Weld Adhesive is an easy-to-use glue that works on multiple types of materials.

It can bond hard and semi-flexible plastics, PVC, ABS, vinyl, styrene, acrylic, glass, fiberglass, aluminum, and more.

In my experience, it’s one of the best glues for ABS plastic.

Its non-sagging formula helps keep materials in place even when exposed to high tension.

This glue has an incredible tensile strength of up to 3500 PSI, so it’s also great for heavier-weight applications.

This adhesive has a quick working time, setting in as little as 5 minutes. Even more impressive is the 10-minute cure time, which is far shorter than most similar glues on the market.

Once fully cured, the glue becomes resistant to humidity and weather, rendering itself well for indoor and outdoor applications.

The only downside to this glue is its color. It doesn’t dry clear but is rather cream-colored.

It might not be noticeable on lighter-colored plastics. But it will create a stark contrast for dark plastics.

5. GLUESMITH Plastic Repair Glue System

The GLUESMITH Plastic Repair Glue System is an all-in-one plastic fixing kit.

You’ll get two highly versatile plastic adhesives that work on all types of surfaces, including LSE plastics.

The thick consistency adhesive is great for filling in cracks and small gaps without dripping off smooth surfaces.

The structural composite fillers are compatible with all materials and great for extensive repairs where you need to fill in deep cracks or complete missing chips.

You’ll also get a booster or accelerator to help you minimize curing times and to strengthen bonds.

Tips for Gluing Polypropylene

To glue polypropylene properly, you’ll need polyethylene glue or a two-component polypropylene.

Then, mix the two substances until you get the right mixture.

Before that, you should clean the surfaces until there’s no more debris present.

You want the surface to be smooth, so the glue forms a tight bond.

Polypropylene glue should come with a primer that you apply to the two surfaces before the glue itself.

The primer’s role is to form a tight bond with the underlying layer of the material (such as plastic).

Other glues, like the 2-part epoxy, must be mixed thoroughly before applying it to the surfaces.

A nifty trick you should remember is that you need to apply a lot of glue when working with polyethylene and polypropylene.

You should clamp the materials for a few minutes until the adhesive hardens enough. The glue should fully dry, set, and cure in 12-24 hours.

Safety tips:

• Wear protective gloves when working with polypropylene glue. If the glue bonds to your skin, it’ll be both painful and difficult to remove it
• Work in a well-ventilated area when using epoxy glues or other toxic adhesives. Inhaling the toxic fumes isn’t good for your health.
• Ideally, you should wear eye protection, so the adhesive doesn’t get into your eyes.

Wrap-up

You want a non-porous glue that can bond low-energy plastics like polypropylene.

The Loctite Super Glue Plastics Bonding System is my top pick for this type of project for a variety of reasons:

• No mixing required
• Dries clear
• Can bond porous and non-porous materials
• Versatile (can bond many materials)
• Primer improves holding power
• Sets relatively fast

If you have any other questions, leave them below, and I’ll reply as soon as possible!