What is Nitrile Rubber?
Nitrile Rubber, commonly referred to as NBR, is a synthetic elastomer designed for excellent resistance to oils, fuels and hydrocarbons. It is produced from acrylonitrile and butadiene, which gives it a balanced combination of flexibility, mechanical strength and chemical resistance.
Nitrile Rubber is widely used across industrial, automotive, oil and gas and fluid applications due to its excellent resistance to chemicals and good abrasion performance. It offers reliable tensile strength and compression set properties, making it well suited to sealing and gasket applications where long term dimensional stability is required. NBR performs effectively across a moderate temperature range and maintains its integrity when exposed to lubricants, hydraulic fluids and greases. NBR can be bonded using a range of industrial adhesive systems.
What adhesives can bond nitrile rubber?
Nitrile Rubber bonds extremely well with Instant Adhesives due to their ability to rapidly polymerise on contact with the rubber surface and create high strength bonds with minimal clamping in a matter of seconds.Â
All NEXTITE Instant Adhesive grades can bond nitrile rubber successfully for highest rubber to rubber shear strength use a surface insensitive, general purpose cyanoacrylate adhesive. For improved peel and impact resistance as well as bonding to dissimilar materials consider a rubber toughened grade. For high visual appearance consider a low odour, low bloom (low whitening) grade.
For larger surface areas, contact adhesives provide a practical and economical alternative. These are well suited to sheet bonding, rubber lining and broad area laminations where flexibility is required and near immediate handling strength is beneficial.
Instant Adhesives (Cyanoacrylates)
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Strengths |
Extremely fast fixture, high shear strength, no mixing (single part), great for high-speed production lines various grades available for different adhesive needs. |
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Limitations |
Limited gap filling capability without activators, lower impact and peel strength compared to other structural adhesives (rubber toughened grades increase impact and peel resistance) |
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Most Suitable |
All grades of NEXTITE Instant Adhesives can bond Nitrile Rubber. For General Purpose: NEXTITE 506 (Thin), NEXTITE 501 (Medium), NEXTITE 554 (Non-Drip Gel). For Impact Resistance: NEXTITE 580 (Black, Medium), NEXTITE 510 (Black, Thick), NEXTITE 535 (Clear, Medium). For High Visual Appearance: NEXTITE 560 (Thin), NEXTITE 503 (Thick). |
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Contact Adhesives
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Strengths |
Contact adhesives provide excellent performance over large surface areas, making them ideal for rubber sheeting, linings and laminations. They remain flexible after curing, allowing the bond to accommodate movement, vibration and thermal expansion. |
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Limitations |
They generally offer lower structural strength compared to instant adhesives or structural systems, particularly in high load or peel stress applications. Proper application technique is critical, as incorrect flash off time or uneven coating can significantly reduce final bond strength. |
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What Industries Use Nitrile Rubber?
Nitrile rubber is commonly selected for applications where resistance to oils, fuels and mechanical wear is critical. Its durability and sealing capability make it ideal for components that operate in contact with lubricants or pressurised fluids.Â
Common industries include:
- Automotive and Transport
- Oil and Gas
- Industrial Manufacturing and Machinery
- Aerospace
- Marine
- Agriculture
Challenges with nitrile rubber
- Limited resistance to UV and weathering compared to EPDM
- Reduced flexibility at very low temperatures
- Not suitable for ketone, ether, ester-based chemicals as well as strong acids or polar materials
- Selected industrial adhesives can bond to Nitrile Rubber due to its lower surface energy and high flexibility.
Surface Preparation
Proper surface preparation is critical to achieving a strong and reliable bond when working with nitrile rubber. Begin by lightly wiping the bonding area with NEXTITE PROPREP Surface Preparation Cleaner or Isopropyl Alcohol. This removes surface contaminants including dust, oils, mould release agents and residual adhesive that can interfere with bond strength. Allow the cleaner to fully evaporate before applying any adhesive.
Summary
Choosing the best industrial adhesive to bond nitrile rubber comes down to understanding the application requirements and performance required from the joint.
If you would like to speak to our expert team about your next project, please contact us for tailored advice and product recommendations to suit your application.