Remoldong Polypropelene Chairs

Using solvents is really going to be impractical since there are not solvents for PP at room temperature. Most of the solvents for PP require a pretty high temperature, nearly as high as the melting point of the PP, and since they are usually high flammable, you'll be much better off just by heating the PP up by itself and reworking that way.

PP has a deflection temperature at 66 psi of 100 C, so if you think you can generate that much pressure, that's the temperature that you will need. At a higher temperature, you will need less pressure. If you get up to 170 C, you'll get the Salvador Dali look. I'd strongly suggest playing around with a small piece first to get a feel for how the soft plastic will behave.

Rapidly cooling the sample may cause warpage - this could be good or bad depending on the look you want. Other than the heat of the plastic and oven, there really shouldn't be other safety concerns. i.e., no dangerous fumes or fire hazards.

Can you post pictures somewhere of your successes?

John

Thanks for that advice. I will post some images either before or after the exhibition in mid-october.

Cheers

Neal

John Spevacek wrote:

John

If you could answer an additional question, that would be great.

It is unlikely I will be able to get an oven or pressuret to work on these chairs ( I dont have access to eqpt). Is there a method that is more localised for heating, rather than an overall effect of an oven or heated mold.

Or a method by which I can apply heat and pressure without specialist equipment?

Thanks in advance for responses

Neal

John Spevacek wrote:

Localized heating with a hot air gun may allow minor re-alignment of the structure, although results may be difficult to predict or control. Temperature needed would be about 150C.