Best Adhesive for Rubbers and Elastomers
Selecting the best adhesive for rubber is rarely straightforward. There is no true one size fits all solution, because no two applications are identical. The type of rubber being bonded plays a major role. Joint design and available bond area also matter, as do the materials being joined, whether that be rubber to rubber or rubber to a dissimilar substrate such as plastics, metals or composites. On top of this, the bonded assembly must be able to withstand its working environment, including exposure to impact loads, vibration, movement, chemicals and temperature changes. All these factors need to be considered together to select an adhesive that will perform reliably in real world conditions.
This page provides an overview of the common rubber bonding adhesive types. Detailed recommendations and product guidance can be found within the material specific sections linked below. For a tailored recommendation to your application contact our expert team.
Click the links below for information on bonding specific elastomers
- EPDM
- Natural Rubber
- Neoprene Rubber
- Nitrile Rubber
- Silicone Rubber
- Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE)
If your specific material is not listed here, please feel free to contact us, our team will be able to assist.Â
If a link is not active yet, we are working on adding the content for that specific material.
Types of Adhesives Used for Bonding Rubbers & Elastomers
There are multiple adhesive technologies suitable for rubbers. Which one used depends on the specific material(s) and application requirements.
Instant Adhesives (Cyanoacrylate)
Instant adhesives are by far the most popular choice when bonding rubbers. They are fast curing, single component adhesives ideal for many rubbers where rapid handling strength is required. They are commonly used for all types of components where high-speed assembly is necessary. There are various grades of instant adhesives available offering different viscosities, flexibility and impact strengths, gap filling capability, temperature resistance and cure speeds.
Contact Adhesives
Contact adhesives bond well to a wide range of rubber materials and offer a more economical solution for larger surface areas, particularly in laminating and sheet bonding applications. These adhesives are applied to both surfaces, allowed to flash off, then brought together under pressure to create a virtually immediate bond.
Methyl Methacrylate (MMA)
Methacrylate adhesives are high strength adhesives capable of bonding various rubbers. While they do bond to rubbers they are not as strong as using a cyanoacrylate adhesive due to being able to be peeled off. They do however offer gap filling and longer time to position which cyanoacrylates and contact adhesives don't offer.
Epoxy Adhesives
Epoxy Adhesives are high strength rigid adhesives that are capable of bonding rubber. Although epoxies have the same disadvantage to methacrylate and can be peeled off. For a meaningful bond opt for a flexible epoxy. They do however offer gap filling and longer time to position which cyanoacrylates and contact adhesives don't offer.
How to select the best glue for rubber?
Selecting the best glue for rubber starts with identifying the type of rubber being bonded, as different rubbers can have different bonding characteristics and can require different surface preparation. You also need to consider what the rubber is being bonded to, along with joint design and available bond area.Â
The service environment is just as important as the material itself. Exposure to impact, vibration, movement, chemicals, moisture and temperature changes will all affect adhesive performance and adhesive choice. Proper surface preparation is critical. By assessing these factors together you can select the correct adhesive that provides reliable, long term performance.
Surface Preparation Best Practices
Proper surface preparation is essential for achieving a reliable bond on rubber. In most cases, a simple solvent wipe is best practice, as it removes oils and lubricants, mould release, slip additives, dust and handling contaminants that can prevent a good bond. We recommend using NEXTITE PROPREP Surface Preparation Cleaner as it is fast evaporating and non harmful to delicate surfaces.
Some rubbers are more difficult to bond and may require additional steps. TPE and Silicone Rubber will only work with the use of NEXTITE SP901 Polyolefin Primer. EPDM requires the use of specialised adhesives. Identifying these materials early helps ensure the correct preparation method is used and avoids premature bond failure.
Professional Adhesive Solutions for Metal Applications
NEXTITE Adhesives are designed to meet the demands of industrial, trade and manufacturing environments. Selecting the correct adhesive system ensures long term performance.
For detailed guidance and material specific rubber bonding pages explore the links above.
Our team is always ready to help. Contact us to get expert advice on selecting the right adhesive for your materials and application.