Plastic welding casing of electric meters. It is also a component – along with tetrahydrofuran – of the solvent used to weld plumbing. ABS plastic is typically welded with Acetone based solvents which are often sold as paint thinners or in smaller containers as nail polish remover. Solvent welding is a common method in plastics fabrication and used by manufacturers of in-store displays, brochure holders, presentation cases and dust covers. Another popular use of solvents in the hobby segment is model building from injection molded kits for scale models of aircraft, ships and cars which predominantly use Polystyrene plastic. In order to
Solvent casting and particulate leaching Solvent casting and particulate leaching In solvent casting and particulate leaching (SCPL), a polymer is dissolved in an organic solvent. Particles, mainly salts, with specific dimensions are then added to the solution. The mixture is shaped into its final geometry. For example, it can be cast onto a glass plate to produce a membrane or in a three-dimensional mold to produce a scaffold. When the solvent evaporates, it creates a structure of composite material consisting of the particles together with the polymer. The composite material is then placed in a bath which dissolves the particles, leaving behind a porous structure.