Rubber-metal glue reliably connects two fundamentally different materials
One material is known for its flexibility, the other is more associated with rigidity: If you want to bond rubber and metal, you need the right adhesive. In our range you will find special rubber-metal adhesives that bond metal to metal, rubber to rubber, both with each other and with other materials quickly, safely and permanently. The right rubber-metal adhesive is also included for your area of application. Discover our products and get started!
Which glue is suitable for bonding rubber and metal?
First of all, you have to be aware that rubber and metal are just umbrella terms for many different materials that have similar properties. Rubber is an industrially manufactured material that is usually made of rubber. Depending on the type of rubber, various additives and manufacturing methods are used. Therefore rubber can be elastic, soft-hard or very hard. You must therefore choose the right rubber-metal adhesive based on the strength and use of the glued material.
Metal can also come in many different forms: iron, aluminum, steel, sheet metal, etc. It can also be bare or have a treated surface, for example coated or painted. This is also crucial for the selection of the right adhesive for the metal-rubber connection.
Another factor - as with all adhesives - is the size of the area to be glued. Super glue (e.g. Our cyanoacrylate adhesive), s suitable for small areas to be glued or strips, whereas for larger areas of several square centimeters, a 2-component adhesive is recommended. For areas of several square meters, contact adhesives based on polychloropores (also called chloropen rubber or CR) should be used.
How to Use Adhesive for Rubber and Metal
When gluing metal and rubber, you need to pre-treat the affected surfaces. In order for the metal-rubber adhesive to stick, it is best to work with solvents, cleaning agents or other substances to remove residues as much as possible. If metals are coated or otherwise treated, they should ideally be sanded. After that, further cleaning is necessary.
Since rubber can be damaged or otherwise weakened in the course of its life, it is difficult to assess in advance whether the bonding process will be successful. It is therefore best to test the rubber-metal adhesive in advance on a small area and evaluate the result after a few days. If the experiment was successful, the adhesive is suitable and can be used over the entire surface. The bond can then be processed further, because the correct adhesive can be filed, drilled or milled after it has hardened.
You can also use rubber-metal adhesive to fill cracks, bumps or holes, for example in aluminum housings.
Can you also glue other materials with rubber-metal glue?
Adhesives for rubber-metal are not limited to this connection. The WEICON Fast Metal Minute Adhesive from our range can be used for metal and plastic as well as for fiber composite materials, ceramics, glass, stone or wood. The WEICON GMK 2410, based on polychloroprene adhesive, connects rubber with rubber, rubber with metal, as well as foam rubber, leather, felt, insulation materials, PE foam, wood and textiles.
Even if rubber-metal adhesives can be used very widely, there are still materials for which they are not suitable (e.g. PVC). Therefore, always read the manufacturer's information before buying.
