To attach silicone rubber effectively, you typically need to prepare the surface and use a specialized adhesive, often involving a primer. According to the provided reference, the specific steps involve cleaning the surface, applying a primer known as POP, allowing it to dry, and then bonding with a suitable cyanoacrylate adhesive.
Attaching silicone rubber can be challenging because its low surface energy makes it difficult for most adhesives to bond effectively. This is why a primer is often necessary to create a surface that the adhesive can grip onto.
Step-by-Step Bonding Process
Following the method described in the reference, here's how you can attach silicone rubber:
- Clean the Surface: Before applying any adhesive or primer, ensure the silicone surface is clean.
- Wipe the silicone with isopropanol (isopropyl alcohol). This helps remove any mold release agents, oils, or other contaminants that could prevent proper bonding.
- Apply Primer (POP): After cleaning, apply a primer specifically designed for silicone, such as POP (Polyolefin Primer).
- Apply a thin, even layer of the POP primer to the silicone surface.
- Allow the primer to dry completely. This step is crucial as the primer needs to modify the surface before the adhesive is applied.
- Apply Cyanoacrylate Adhesive: Once the primer is dry, apply a suitable cyanoacrylate (super glue) adhesive. The choice of adhesive depends on the application's flexibility requirements.
- For most close-fitting applications, Permabond 105 is an ideal choice.
- For applications requiring more flexibility in the bond, Permabond 2050 is recommended.
- Apply the adhesive to one of the surfaces and quickly bring the two surfaces together, holding them firmly until the bond sets.
Choosing the Right Cyanoacrylate
The reference highlights two specific Permabond cyanoacrylate options based on the needs of the application:
| Adhesive Type | Ideal Application | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Permabond 105 | Close-fitting parts | Standard strength |
| Permabond 2050 | Applications needing flexibility | More flexible bond |
Selecting the correct adhesive based on whether the final bond needs to be rigid or flexible is important for the longevity and performance of the attachment.
By following these steps – cleaning, priming with POP, and bonding with an appropriate Permabond cyanoacrylate – you can achieve a strong attachment to silicone rubber, overcoming its inherent bonding difficulties.
