Bonding Acrylic & Plastics

These acrylic glue sticks bond acrylic sheet to itself and to a wide range of other materials — metal, wood, concrete, ceramics, leather, and most plastics — using acrylic resin-based hot melt chemistry. They apply through a standard Tec glue gun, set on contact, and need no mixing, clamping, or ventilation. The core grade is Tecbond 248, available in 12mm, 15mm, and 43mm.

What is hot melt acrylic glue?

Most acrylic glues on the market are solvent-based: they bond by partially dissolving the acrylic surface, which is fine for clear-to-clear optical joints on sheet, but awkward when you need to bond acrylic to metal, wood, or other plastics in the same operation. Acrylic hot melt adhesive works differently. The adhesive itself is built around an acrylic polymer compound, which gives it strong adhesion across a much wider range of surfaces. You apply it with a glue gun, it grabs on contact, and it hardens as it cools — no wait, no clamps, no solvent chemical exposure.

Tecbond 248 is the main grade in this range. It bonds acrylic pieces to metal frames, wooden substrates, concrete, ceramics, rubber, leather, melamine, and most plastic families including PVC, polycarbonate, ABS, and polystyrene. Clear acrylic and transparent acrylic bond well to all of these. For applications where solvent cement or UV resin aren’t practical — high-output production, multi-material assembly, or anywhere you need the bond made fast — acrylic hot melt is a different class of tool entirely.

Why use it over other adhesive types?

Speed is the obvious one. A solvent-based adhesive or two-part structural adhesive typically needs surfaces perfectly mated, precise mixing, and time for the joint to cure before you can move the pieces. Hot melt acrylic glue sets in seconds. No clamps required, no mess to clean up, no waiting for the compound to harden before the next stage of assembly.

There are no VOCs either. Where a solvent-based adhesive raises ventilation concerns in enclosed workspaces, Tecbond hot melts contain no solvents and carry no fumes — which is one reason they’re widely used in POS display fabrication, print finishing, and product assembly lines where a seamless finish matters and downtime doesn’t.

The bonds are strong. On most substrates, the acrylic surface material will fail before a properly applied Tecbond 248 joint does.

What can it bond?

Typical uses across this range include:

• Bonding acrylic sheet to metal, wood, and ceramics in display and signage manufacture
• POS display fabrication — acrylic to acrylic and to dissimilar materials in one pass
• Edge bonding of acrylic profiles and extrusions
• Acrylic surface repairs in manufacturing and product assembly
• Bonding clear acrylic panels to timber or painted surfaces
• DIY projects involving plastic, acrylic, and mixed-material assemblies

Note: Tecbond hot melts are thermoplastic adhesives — they soften with heat and aren’t waterproof in standard grades. For external or wet-environment applications, speak to the team about PUR alternatives. For polypropylene and polyethylene bonding, different Tecbond grades apply (see the Bonding Polypropylene category).

Which grade do you need?

Tecbond 248 covers the majority of acrylic glue applications. Tecbond 261 offers a tougher, more flexible bond for demanding or high-stress joints. The Glue Selector narrows it down by substrate, or call the technical team on 0161 627 1001 — they’ll find the right adhesive for your application, and sample packs are available.

What can we GLUE for you?

We are probably the UK’s if not Europe’s leading supplier of Tecbond shaped hot melt adhesive. Offering the largest range of performance adhesives and hand-held applicators

40+ years’ experience, offering specialist knowledge on all aspects of commercial gluing operations – try our Glue Selector

Advanced technology at the UK manufacturing facility and a continuous programme of research and development ensures that we continue to meet the ever changing and challenging needs of industry

Tecbond adhesives are often formulated using raw materials harvested from sustainable managed forests. Our packaging is recyclable, and where possible made from recycled materials

Over 90% of the Tecbond adhesives and Tec glue guns are made in the UK, and we offer 12 months warranty as standard on all our Tec glue gun range 12mm, 15mm, 43mm and spray tools

 “How do Hot Melt Adhesives work?