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welding / fixing Polycarbonate cracks

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AYahya

Electrical
Nov 11, 2008
17
Hi

i have a bit of unusual question. i have a clear polycarbonate camera housing ( the one you put a professional camera in it and take it deep underwater ). i found 3 tiny surface cracks each of 2-3 mm long around one of the control glands penetrating the housing wall. i know its surface cracks because they are not leaking water, yet. the housing is rated to 60m depth but i only take it down to 20m max. i suspect that the housing got a bang in airport during a flight or something or may be its some kind of stress cracks.

i read about using Methylene Chloride in welding polycarbonate but i don't know anyone who actually tried it in similar cases like mien.

what do you think ? any suggestion to weld these cracks before they get worse ? i attached a close picture of them.
 
 http://files.engineering.com/getfile.aspx?folder=fa3e8090-06a6-49b3-92a6-ffc96732a420&file=_DSC1136.JPG
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A drop of thin CA will seal that right up (and likely make it nearly invisible).

Dan - Owner
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Thanks,

i don't know much about bonding material or chemicals, so i still have some questions to ask.
is using cyanoacrylate ( super glue ) better than using Methylene Chloride ?
is it going to penetrate the crack and weld it permanently without turning it to white color or cause more stress to the polycarbonate housing ?
i have only one shot to try on the housing and i don't want to ruin it.
 
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