Rubber Component with Metal Support

Engineering products for a wide range of applications are made by the use of rubbers bonded to metals during the vulcanisation of the rubber. The quality of bond achieved during the manufacture of this type of component must be of sufficient integrity, not only to be stronger than the rubber itself, but also to outlast the active life of the rubber constituent of the components. To this end, the design of the component and 

The environment in which the component is to work will also affect the stresses to which the rubber-metal bond will be subjected. Some oil and solvent environments will penetrate a bond at the interface and thus may weaken or destroy the integrity of the bond until the stress becomes relieved by failure. 

Corrosion of the metal component of the bonded unit by salt environments can also be a major problem and thus due concern and allowance must be made for the service conditions in which the rubber to metal component will be resident. Corrosion of the bonded metal under the bonding system can also occur if the metal pre-preparation is carried out with acidic degreasing fluids. Care must be taken that degreasing fluids are and remain, neutral in pH throughout their use in the application. Recovery of used solvents and redistillation can significantly change the pH of a solvent. This can be a particular problem with chlorinated solvents, where after redistillation the distillate can be acidic in nature. 

To effect good long-lasting bonds between rubber and metals it is essential that both materials presented to the interface be clean and free from detritus. The presence of oils and the possibility that compounding ingredients can exude or bloom from the rubber surface, before or after moulding, or during the service life of the component must also be taken into consideration and remedied. 

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