acid etching

[Digger1]

Is there a method of etching or attacking the styrene around joints to make it dull(er) to help facilitate adhesion?

I was thinking about this at the dentist's office today as they were applying an etching compound to my tooth to dull the enamel so that the appliance could better adhere to the tooth. I think he said it was potassium nitrate.

Anyway, I got thinking that might be a good way to make a stronger bond between joined parts in modeling.

Strange how dentistry and scale modeling is so much alike. In fact, he was sanding down the side of my tooth with a very narrow strip of special dental sandpaper. I asked him what grit it was. He didn't know because he hold me 80. I asked if I could see some (handle one) and I was able to tell him it was closer to 8,000 grit and that if the strip was indeed 80 grit, I was surprised I had any workable tooth left.

[Joseph Osborn]

Is there a method of etching or attacking the styrene around joints to make it dull(er) to help facilitate adhesion?

Sandpaper.

[Digger1]

I was thinking more along the lines of the male and female locator pins.

[eeun]

If you're talking about two kit styrene parts, then liquid cement makes roughing the surface unnecessary. The solvent evaporates leaving plastic melted to plastic.

Your tooth example has two dissimilar materials held together by an adhesive layer between them. A rough surface is necessary for the adhesive layer to stick to.

[Joseph Osborn]

You know that purple primer stuff you put on PVC pipe before you cement the joint together? I wonder if that would make any difference to the strength of a cemented styrene joint? I think the purple pigment may be tough to paint over without bleeding...