What kind of plastic is my white Libra 2? (Hairline crack repair)

[fogice]

I've searched the web in every way I can think of. I've chatted with Kobo online support. I can't figure out what kind of plastic my white Kobo Libra 2 is made of.

I have a hairline crack in the plastic case. It starts at a corner of the screen, and goes diagonally toward the case corner. I'd like to seal this, most importantly so that the crack doesn't spread, secondarily to keep it waterproofed.

If I know the kind of plastic, then I can find the appropriate adhesive. I don't think there's any way to get down into the crack, so it would have to be a surface covering. Superglue? Epoxy? Who knows....

[JSWolf]

Originally Posted by fogice

I've searched the web in every way I can think of. I've chatted with Kobo online support. I can't figure out what kind of plastic my white Kobo Libra 2 is made of.

I have a hairline crack in the plastic case. It starts at a corner of the screen, and goes diagonally toward the case corner. I'd like to seal this, most importantly so that the crack doesn't spread, secondarily to keep it waterproofed.

If I know the kind of plastic, then I can find the appropriate adhesive. I don't think there's any way to get down into the crack, so it would have to be a surface covering. Superglue? Epoxy? Who knows....

You may as well treat your Libra 2 as if it's not waterproof. You won't know if it is or not until it gets wet and if it's not, it could be the end.

So just patch the crack and forget it was ever waterproof.

[Quoth]

The original Aura H2O used the case to make it waterproof, hence the ring-seal on the door flap.

The "waterproofing" on the Libra 2 is an interior coating on the circuit board so a crack on the case has no effect.

A crack on glass will propagate often even without any stress, but not not so much on most plastics without stress.

Superglue isn't much good for most plastics and it or epoxy will peel off many. Glues for PVC and Polystyrene work by dissolving the surface. Acrylic aka Perspex uses a cement, though maybe superglue works. Superglue is odd stuff. It will peel off many plastics.

Polyester aka PET and Mylar can't be easily glued, though stuff is glued to them. You'll find tape splices or glue on bottles can be peeled off.

PTFE aka Teflon can't be glued at all.

Polycarbonate doesn't glue easily.

Epoxy is good to glue non-plastics!

[DNSB]

Originally Posted by fogice

I have a hairline crack in the plastic case. It starts at a corner of the screen, and goes diagonally toward the case corner. I'd like to seal this, most importantly so that the crack doesn't spread, secondarily to keep it waterproofed.

As @Quoth said, the waterproofing for a Libra 2 is a conformal coating from HZO covering the electronics so a crack in the case is not going to have any effect on it.

[Frogm4n]

Often the type of plastic is molded into parts in an inconspicuous area. There may be "ABS" or other plastic type molded into the bezel, likely on a flat part of the inside, either alone or along with a resin code. For example, I've got a stand thing that has 06 inside the triangle resin code logo, with PS underneath. It's a polystyrene plastic.

[Quoth]

A pin or similar can apply polystyrene cement as used with kits to polystyrene and it will melt a little. Neatness is nearly impossible.

[fogice]

Originally Posted by Quoth

Superglue isn't much good for most plastics and it or epoxy will peel off many. Glues for PVC and Polystyrene work by dissolving the surface. Acrylic aka Perspex uses a cement, though maybe superglue works. Superglue is odd stuff. It will peel off many plastics.

Polyester aka PET and Mylar can't be easily glued, though stuff is glued to them. You'll find tape splices or glue on bottles can be peeled off.

PTFE aka Teflon can't be glued at all.

Polycarbonate doesn't glue easily.

Epoxy is good to glue non-plastics!

This is a great list, but I still don't know which kind of plastic I'm dealing with.

Originally Posted by Quoth

A pin or similar can apply polystyrene cement as used with kits to polystyrene and it will melt a little. Neatness is nearly impossible.

Is this my best bet? Melting sounds like a good plan for this crack.

[Quoth]

Originally Posted by fogice

Is this my best bet? Melting sounds like a good plan for this crack.

Only solvent type kit glue for polystyrene if it's polystyrene. It might not be.

It's easy to make it look worse. I'd ignore it or find some nail polish the same colour and use small sewing needle to fill/hide the crack.