What are Rubber Adhesives Sealants?
Rubber adhesives and sealants
are very flexible materials that are used to join parts or fill gaps between
seams or on surfaces. They protect different materials using rubber-based
substances. There is a minor difference between rubber sealants and rubber
adhesives. While adhesive is used to create a bond between two different or
similar materials, sealant is used to create an impenetrable barrier to gas
or moisture. Rubber adhesives sealants are available as aerosols, sprays,
films, gels, liquids, slurries, solids, pastes, powders, and putties.
Why are Rubber Adhesives Sealants Used?
Rubber sealants and
adhesives are ideal for joining or filling gaps in almost any material-
ceramics, glass, concrete, paper, rubbers, elastomers, leather, textiles,
metal, plastic, wood, porous surfaces, and even composite materials.
Therefor, rubber sealants and adhesives have wide applications in aerospace,
automotive, electrical, electronic, marine, medical, and military. These
rubber sealants are also used in abrasives, optics, photonics, and
semiconductors. Industries that typically use rubber adhesives and sealants
include construction, consumer products, assembly, packaging, labeling, and
transportation.
What are Rubber Adhesives and Sealants Made of?
The rubber
adhesive sealants can be made of
natural rubber or
synthetic rubber. Rubber adhesives and
sealants are made from various combinations of petroleum-derived plastic
resins, synthetic rubber elastomers, and agents or additives which are used
to enhance certain characteristics.
What is the Function of Rubber Adhesives?
An adhesive is used to
bond or fasten materials together and its strength depends on two things:
- The strength of attachment of the adhesive to the material surface
called adhesion.
- The internal strength of the adhesive called cohesion.
Another function of adhesive is Sealing.
Types of Rubber Sealants
There are various types of rubber
sealants, some of which protect materials from water while others can
protect them against corrosion and certain chemicals.
Natural Rubber Sealants
Natural rubber sealants can excellently
join glass, paper, wood, plastic, rubber, steel, iron, ceramics, masonry,
painted surfaces, plastics, and fabrics too. These types of rubber sealants
can bind materials even in water and protects them from corrosion but they
cannot withstand much weight or pressure. Therefore, natural rubber sealants
are not advisable be used for such materials that require to be kept
outdoors.
Silicone Rubber Sealants
Silicone Rubber Sealant Silicone
rubber sealants are the weatherproof, watertight and flexible
rubber seals. Silicon seals can withstand
very high temperatures as compared to the other types of rubber sealants.
They also do not shrink and retain considerable elasticity for longer time.
Silicon rubber sealants are preferred to be used for sealing glass items.
Caulk Rubber Sealants
Caulk is a waterproof sealant which is
generally used in building work and for repairs. There are many types of
caulks available for home repair. These include silicone caulk, latex caulk,
acrylic caulk, acrylic latex caulk, acrylic latex silicone caulk, and Butyl
rubber caulk. Among all,
butyl rubber sealant caulk is considered
best for strongest bond, and is generally used to fill in cracks in bricks,
concrete, and metal.
Types of Rubber Adhesives
Rubber adhesives are made up of natural and synthetic rubbers.
Pressure sensitive adhesives (PSAs) are mostly based on non-crosslinked
rubber adhesives and are in a latex emulsion or solvent-borne form. Below
are given the major types of rubber adhesives.
Natural Rubber Adhesive
This consists of a rubber solution and
bonding is attained by evaporation of the solvent. This type of adhesive and
sealant is not suitable for adverse environments or for structures that need
to withstand high loads. It performs well in water. However, it is not
resistant to oils and solvents. Natural rubber adhesives and sealants are
used to bind glass, wood, paper, plastic, fabric, rubber, iron or steel.
Polychloroprene (Neoprene) Adhesive
This type of adhesive or
sealant offers strong, quick and permanent bonds and the joints are made by
contact adhesion without the use of clamps or jigs. This is used to bind
plastics, wood, leather and metal.
Acronitrile Butadiene Adhesive
This type of rubber solution is
used to bind rubber and plastics.
Butyl Rubber Adhesive
The adhesives have low permeability,
inherent tackiness and aging resistance. This kind of adhesive and sealant
is specifically used to repair the inner tubes of tires and to bind some
plastics.
Styrene Butadiene Adhesive
This adhesive is usable in the
automotive industry because of the pressure sensitive variation. It binds
all rubber products.
Polyurethane Adhesive
This is a adhesive or a sealant having two
component adhesives. This type of adhesive is resistant to acids, alkalis,
solvents and oils. A variety of materials including plastics, metals,
polyurethane and glass could be joined using polyurethane adhesive.
Polysulphide Adhesive
It offers chemical resistance and flexible
bonding. Materials like wood, ceramics, concrete, glass, aluminum and steel
could be joined using this adhesive which is also used as a sealant.
Silicone Rubber Adhesive
It features high service temperature in
the range of 300 degree C and low shear strength. This type of adhesive is
best suited for sealing applications, glazing and for binding metals, glass
and silicone.
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Buying Tips for Sealants Adhesives
There are certain
specifications that a buyer should know before buying rubber sealants
and adhesives:
- Gap fill: Maximum space that an adhesive can accommodate between
the substrates.
- Viscosity: Measure of fluidity of the adhesive.
- Coefficient of thermal expansion: Linear expansion or contraction
of the adhesive for unit change in temperature.
- Thermal conductivity: The ability of the adhesive to transfer
heat.
- Elongation: The fractional rise in the length of the adhesive
film under tension.
- Tensile strength: Maximum stress that an adhesive film is capable
of withstanding.
Advantages of Rubber Adhesives
- The rubber sealant and adhesive films formed after drying can be
peeled off without causing damage to the surface of the adherent.
- They adhere to a wide range of materials and feature a high initial
tack.
Applications of Rubber Adhesives Sealants
- Rubber sealants and adhesives are used in medical applications such
as dressings, tapes, drapes and catheters.
- They are also used in cosmetic applications.
- Rubber sealants adhesives are used for surface protection, color
coding, sealing, paint masking, aisle marking and splicing.
- They are further used in building, construction, and pipeline
applications.
- Finally, rubber sealants and adhesives are used in abrasives, optics,
photonics, and semiconductors too.
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