Bonding silicone rubber to aluminum

[JordonMusser]

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

 

[flash3780]

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

 

[JordonMusser]

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

 

[dvd]

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

 

[JordonMusser]

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...

 

[Compositepro]

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

 

[loughnane]

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

 

[GregLocock]

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


New here? Try reading these, they might help FAQ731-376

http://eng-tips.com/market.cfm?

 

[MintJulep]

Nothing bonds well to silicone.

Use neoprene rubber strips. Bond with contact cement.

 

[dvd]

1. Get steel-backed rubber sheets and machine to net shape then mill away the rubber in the area of the mounting tabs to make your own pads.

http://www.durexproducts.com/Products/UrethaneRubberWearLiners/SheetLiner.asp

or

2. Have rubber vulcanized onto your custom made steel blanks. It doesn't have to be complicated.

 

[JordonMusser]

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.

 

[Tunalover]

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

Tunalover