Weld two acrylic pieces for a sinlge large panel?

[Revan]

Hello All!

Does anyone know if two separate acrylic panels can be welded together, end-on-end, to make a single larger piece?

Would it be structurally viable for use in a large tank build? Notwithstanding the need to consider acrylic thickness / dimensions once it is made into a single piece.

Obviously welded seems can be found all over in tanks, but those are generally at right angles or curves, which adds structural integrity. My seem in question would be located in the middle of a long, flat panel.

Open to any feedback on the subject. Thank you!

Revan

 

[Dloks]

I have a good feeling since there’s no support in the middle it’ll blow the hell out like an unsupported bottom

 

[Oughtsix]

In wood working a butt joint is the weakest joint. Other joints, like toung and grove joints increase the bonding surface area and make for a stronger joint. If the acrylic is thick enough I could see a toung and grove or other type of lap joint increasing the strength of the joint. I think the hard part with a more complex joint will be to avoid unsightly bubbles in the join.

 

[Lepisosteus]

If you go to public aquariums almost all their large displays have butt joints. If you leave a 1/8” gap and use weldon 42 to fill the gap by creating a mold the two panels will join together with a lot of strength. Assuming you calculate acrylic thickness for the size of the conjoined piece this is very doable. There’s a build on another forum of a 12’ reef display built the exact same way. In his build he holds the 12’ panel up on one end with the entire sheet bowing a few feet without any damage to the created seam. Pics below are from the thread mentioned. Weldon 42 is chemically similar to the polymer used to cast acrylic sheets. If you can anneal weldon 42 while it cures the joint becomes 3X stronger then that of your typical methylene chloride joints

 

[JK47]

If you go to public aquariums almost all their large displays have butt joints. If you leave a 1/8” gap and use weldon 42 to fill the gap by creating a mold the two panels will join together with a lot of strength. Assuming you calculate acrylic thickness for the size of the conjoined piece this is very doable. There’s a build on another forum of a 12’ reef display built the exact same way. In his build he holds the 12’ panel up on one end with the entire sheet bowing a few feet without any damage to the created seam. Pics below are from the thread mentioned. Weldon 42 is chemically similar to the polymer used to cast acrylic sheets. If you can anneal weldon 42 while it cures the joint becomes 3X stronger then that of your typical methylene chloride joints

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Do you mind sharing a link to the thread? This issue is currently where I am stuck at on a project. Thanks for posting this

 

[Lepisosteus]

Heres the link. I believe it’s on reefcentral as well

Calvin415's Complete DIY 12ft Tank Summary

I’ve decided to compile my build into a new thread with less talk, and more pictures so you don’t have to read through 58 pages. If you would like to read through all the trials and failures of this build click here. Here’s where it all began, with an idea!!! Construction of the stand/wall begins...

www.nano-reef.com

 

[BichirKing]

I've used Weldon 40 to fill holes and join pieces end to end. the website http://www.plasticsmag.com/ta.asp?aid=2841
explains it. once the Weldon 40 is cured it is molecularly the same as one piece, no cold weld.

 

[Lepisosteus]

If this is not an option for you, construct a steel right angle frame and add “T” bar to the middle and build it as two separate aquariums that connect in the middle. There is a lot of products that bond metal to thermoplastics. Check out ASI’s products. I will be constructing a 16x4x30” tank doing this method here shortly for a customer.