What Solar Patch Bonds To

A straight answer, including the materials it isn't rated for. If yours isn't listed, ask us before you count on it — we'd rather tell you no than sell you a patch that lets go.

Rated Substrates

Solar Patch is rated to bond to:

Steel — including rusted steel scuffed back to sound material

Aluminum — scuff off the oxide film first

PVC — pipe, panel, and sheet

ABS — housings, tanks, panels

Wood

Fiberglass — hulls, panels, enclosures

Polyethylene — tanks, kayaks, poly sheet

Polyethylene Deserves Its Own Note

Polyethylene is the material most consumer repair products can't handle. It's chemically inert and has low surface energy, which is exactly why it's used for tanks, kayaks, and containers — and exactly why glue doesn't stick to it.

If you've had an epoxy or tape fail on a poly tank or a kayak, that's the reason. Polyethylene is a rated substrate for Solar Patch.

Not Rated

These aren't on the rated list. That doesn't always mean it won't work — it means we don't have data to stand behind, so we won't claim it:

EPDM and TPO rubber membrane — common on RV and flat commercial roofs. Use a product made for membrane.

Silicone and silicone-coated surfaces

Polypropylene

Glass and glazing

Masonry and concrete

Surface Prep by Material

Steel — scuff back to bright metal, remove loose rust, dry

Aluminum — scuff off oxide film, clean, dry

PVC and ABS — clean off dirt and residue, scuff lightly, dry

Fiberglass — remove wax and oxidation, scuff, dry

Polyethylene — clean and scuff, dry

Wood — dry and free of finish where the patch will bond

Painted surfaces — scuff the paint so the patch keys to it

Every material on that list ends with "dry." The surface has to be dry at application. Cured Solar Patch is waterproof, but it won't bond to a wet surface.

What It Won't Do, Regardless of Material

Hold pressure. Not rated for pressurized systems on any substrate.

Bond underwater or to a wet surface.

Replace structure. It seals damage; it doesn't restore load-bearing capacity.

Contact drinking water. No potable-water certification.

Not Sure About Your Material?

Ask before you buy. Tell us what you're fixing and we'll give you a straight answer — including "that's not a good fit for this product" when that's the honest answer.