How to Bond Silicone and Silicone Rubber
Bonding Silicone and Silicone Rubber
Silicone is a material used in a wide range of products. It often appears as PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane). This is a flexible material that is attractive in industry due to its durability and resistance to many chemicals, as well as high temperatures and weather conditions. Silicone is used in the automotive industry, construction and coatings, and not least in the energy sector. Silicone rubber is also known by the abbreviations MQ, VMQ, PMQ, PVMQ.
Bonding
For optimal adhesion, the surfaces should always be cleaned before bonding begins.
With silicone, however, a clean and grease-free surface is not enough. The surface tension of silicone is very low (approx. 24 mN/m). When a substrate has a lower surface tension than the adhesive used, bonding will not succeed without additional treatment. Therefore, the silicone part must be surface-treated, for example with plasma treatment, corona treatment, or a liquid primer, before applying the adhesive.
A successful result is achieved with silicone adhesives. Most are 1-component adhesives, but 2-component silicone adhesives are also available. The adhesion strength will be about the same regardless of the type used.
Silicone adhesives have the advantage of often being highly heat-resistant.
However, note that silicone adhesives cannot be painted over. Therefore, the color of the adhesive can be significant.
It is also possible to bond silicone with super glue (cyanoacrylate). Here, the surface must be treated with primer before applying the glue. The part must also be completely dry after primer treatment. With cyanoacrylate, you get fast curing and a product that can be applied either manually or automatically.
Manufacturers
Silicone rubber is produced by several well-known companies, who market their products under various trade names. Here are some of the most prominent:
BLENSIL by G.E. Silicones
ELASTOSIL by Wacker Chemical Corp.
SILASTIC by Dow Corning STI
Contact us
Do you have questions about bonding or need advice on choosing the right adhesive for your application? Our experts are ready to help you achieve reliable and durable bonding.
We offer solutions with adhesive products that are tailored to meet your specific needs.
Contact us today for professional advice and support.
Call us at +45 66171802 to speak directly with one of our specialists, or send us an email at info@hojstrup.dk.
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