EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer) rubber is a type of synthetic rubber elastomer. It has excellent heat and chemical resistance, and because of that, its use is widespread – particularly in the automotive industry. It is normally black, non-tacky, and often has a slightly dusty feel about it. Bonding EPDM can be done with both cyanoacrylate and structural acrylic adhesives.
Cyanoacrylate Permabond 105 is a good choice. It is a low viscosity, high purity cyanoacrylate adhesive. It is ideal for hard-to-bond plastics and rubbers such as natural rubber, EPDM, and butyl rubber. Cyanoacrylate adhesives are single component adhesives that polymerize rapidly when pressed into a thin film between parts. The moisture adsorbed on the surface initiates the curing of the adhesive. Strong bonds are developed extremely fast and on a great variety of materials. They have good resistance to non-polar solvents but poor resistance to polar solvents like water.
If cyanoacrylate isn’t appropriate for your application, Permabond structural acrylic adhesives TA4605 and TA4610 also form strong bonds. These are 2-part, 1:1 toughened acrylic
adhesives. They bond low surface energy plastics and EPDM – with no primer or surface treatment required. They also bond a wide variety of other materials such as metals and composites.
Tips for surface preparation:
1. Providing the surface is clean, dry, & free from contamination, EPDM can be bonded “As Received.” There is some indication that plasma pretreatment will improve surface energy for bonding.
2. If a release agent is present on the surface remove it with a solvent wipe before bonding. Use isopropanol or Permabond Cleaner A; acetone is too aggressive and may attack the rubber.
