Bonding Steel To Rubber

A. The traditional way involved brass plating the mild steel before vulcanizing. Whether the newer methods can obviate this requirement in every circumstance, I don't know.

If the rubber is not yet vulcanized, then you are referring to rubber-to-metal bonding for which there are special bonding agents which are applied similarly to paint. These bonding agents are manufactured by my parent company, as well as Lord Corp and Morton.

A. The best way of rubber-metal adhesion is as follows: - shot-peening of metal - bonding agent (Parlock,..) application on the metal - drying of bonding agent - mould vulcanization of rubber on metal. Be careful that bonding agent is applied to surface not to oil during transporting to the mold.

Good luck.

A. You may want to contact Henkel Surface Technologies. They have developed a coating that reduces the steps for bonding and coating of mild steel and rubber.

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Ed. note: Readers, please don't suggest that one brand is better than other brands as it often leads to a race to the bottom; before you know it we have sales managers posting with fictitious names posing as satisfied customers. Thanks.