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Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

(OP)
I have an aluminum cradle with a toggle clamp that holds a cylinder in place.  The cylinder gets a fastener torqued, so this cradle must keep the cylinder from rotating.

instead of increasing the toggle clamp force (and risking deforming the cylinder) we lined to the cradle with a thin strip of U channel silicone rubber (thanks Mcmastercar ;) )

What is a good adhesive that will bond these two substrates together? must be cheap/readily available.  I don't have much time to "test".  I am guessing an automotive silicone based sealer would work, but figured it never hurts to ask you guys.

reference material: http://www.mcmaster.com/#3510k5/=5puul2

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

You could try RTV silicone. I'm sure that it would bond to both materials. Can you post a picture of your joint?

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

(OP)
Yea, that is what I was thinking.

I can't post a picture. It is defense related.. I am sure you can guess what the "cylinder" may or may not be ;)

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

1. consider vulcanizing the pads onto the cradle

2. heavily abrade the surface of aluminum before bonding

3. consider fastening a metal-backed rubber pad to the cradle with fasteners.

4. drill through and countersink the opposite side of the cradle to give a rubber pad that doesn't just depend on adhesive bond; this requires the silicone to extrude through the holes into the countersinks on the opposite side

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

(OP)
I looked briefly at metal backed pads, but didnt find anything  OTC that looked usable. Any suggested suppliers?  This is a small qty, like less than 3ft total, .5" wide or so...

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

Get the rubbers sheets with the adhesive backing already on it from McMaster-Carr.

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

I can't quite picture your assembly, but there are two really good options.

You could insert mold the silicone onto the aluminum.  That might be reasonable if it's high quantity.

Other than that, you are  probably best off using VHB (Very High Bond) tape.

Some people scoff when they hear tape for industrial applications, but it's really the way to go.

You are best off calling a rep @ 3M, describing your application, and having them recommend a specific grade.  

Chris Loughnane
http://www.pdnotebook.com
http://www.twitter.com/DesignNotebook

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

Yup I'd go with 3M. If it is military then you will have to qualify the material anyway, so a tube of NoNails from your local hardware store will end up costing you just as much.

 

Cheers

Greg Locock


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RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

Nothing bonds well to silicone.

Use neoprene rubber strips.  Bond with contact cement.

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

(OP)
I never thought about vulcanizing directly on to my substrate. Guess I just haven't had a need before. I can't find much info  for suppliers in my area, but I may contact my machine shop.

Also might just form this:
http://www.mcmaster.com/#9515k711/=5q8vln

and use fasteners.

Fortunately, this is for our FSRs and I do not need to qualify the materials.
 

RE: Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

I'd call Stockwell Rubber and ask them.  They do this stuff for a living.

Tunalover

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