Glueing metal to metal: Guide to Glue on Metal – Our Tips

Epoxies, polyurethane and cyanoacrylate based adhesives will all work well for gluing metal to metal, although an epoxy is probably the most versatile, if you’re looking for a strong, weather-resistant solution. In order to effectively adhere the two, it’s important to clean thoroughly and sand the two surfaces down so they are slightly rough—this will enable a strong bond to form. Also, be sure to clamp the metal in place for the duration of the drying time. 

How to bond metal objects like a pro

Metal glue for powerful bonds

Metals can be joined together in many ways – including adhesive. But you’ll need to use a metal glue that’ll hold up in practice. Read our short guide to get the know-how on the best glues for metal.

• Why do you need a special glue for metal?
• Overview of the types of metal adhesive
• Best glue for metal: A few choices

Why do you need a special glue for metal?

Most household materials like wood, cardboard, and paper are easily glued together because they’re porous, allowing the glue to soak into the material and bond. Metals generally have a harder, denser surface and are less porous, so many adhesives won’t hold up well and the result will be a fragile, brittle bond that fails. That’s why it’s important to use an adhesive that is proven to work well as a metal glue.

Overview of the types of metal adhesive

So, what is the best glue for metal? Three types of adhesives have been proven to work well as metal glues: epoxy adhesive, polyurethane adhesive, and super glue for metal.

Most epoxies come as a two-part system. The components are mixed just before use. These high-performance adhesives are used in many industries because they form super strong bonds to many materials that are normally hard to stick to, such as stone, concrete, and metal.

As a metal adhesive, epoxy can create a very durable bond and some formulas stay slightly flexible in order to stand up to shock or vibration. Another advantage of many epoxies is their ability to fill large gaps without cracking or shrinking. This makes it perfect for applications like anchoring metal railings or bolts into concrete.

Another common metal glue is polyurethane. This type of adhesive is great for outdoor use because it’s water resistant and can withstand UV light exposure. Polyurethane glue for metal will bond more effectively to most metals than ordinary construction adhesives and holds firm across a wide range of temperatures. This type of metal glue is often used for metal roofs and siding.

Finally, super glue for metal works amazingly well in many situations. Because it bonds to almost anything, super glue can be used to install or repair parts or ornaments to automobiles, appliances, small engines, and the like.

For best results, clean up any spills or runs before the metal adhesive dries. A rag moistened with mineral spirits or acetone should do the job.

Best glue for metal: A few choices

If you need to bond metal to concrete, ceramic, wood, or glass, Loctite Epoxy Metal/Concrete is your best choice. It dispenses from a dual syringe for easy mixing and forms a rigid, high-strength bond in 5 to 12 minutes. It won’t shrink and is water and solvent resistant, so it’s perfect for filling gaps and bonding metal to concrete. It won’t conduct electricity, either, so it can be used to seal around electrical components.

Bonding two metal objects? Loctite Epoxy Weld Bonding Compound is a great choice. This two-part epoxy excels at bonding metal to metal as a convenient alternative to welding. Use it to repair machinery, appliances, pipes, auto components, etc. It can be drilled and machined once it’s cured and can stand up to high temperatures.

Does super glue work on metal? Absolutely! For smaller repairs, it’s hard to beat Loctite Super Glue Universal. Fast drying and super strong, this versatile adhesive bonds to metal, porcelain, leather, wood, plastic, and paper. It is shock and temperature resistant and is ideal for non-porous surfaces.

Ready for that metal project now?

Check out our wide range of adhesives and make your selection today.

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How to glue metal to metal permanently and reliably

Before answering the question of how to glue metal to metal, it is necessary to clarify some essential points:

• Where will the glued metal structure be used?
• What strength properties should the bonded structure have?
• What loads will be directly applied to the bonded joint?
• What type of load is applied to the bonded joint?
• Which metals will be bonded?
• How exactly will the metal be glued?

By answering these questions, you will be able to determine the criteria and properties that this industrial adhesive should have.

In the event of an incorrect joint layout, the joint must be resealed with a rubber profile or tape.

One of the main advantages of tapes is the fact that they can be used regardless of the reason the joint needs to be repaired or the type of sealant previously used. The tape is glued to the base on both sides of the seam.

Call us and we will select the adhesive composition and gluing technology for you

SDM-CHEMISTRY offers several universal solutions that have already been tested and are currently working in production.

645 FLÄCHEN KLEBER

Adhesive For bonding small metal parts to galvanized surfaces, it is necessary to use KLEBER 645, a deformation flat industrial adhesive with high performance. The strength and deformation characteristics of the adhesive are sufficient for use in bonding metal with non-ferrous metals, as well as with processed and painted metals.

Due to its strength properties, it finds use in areas such as:

• bonding lighting fixtures to shelving
• attaching CCTV cameras to gutter drains and eaves
• sealing galvanized metal to wall fixtures and subsystems 90 006
• gluing design and architectural elements both indoors and outdoors
• in facade construction
• in the assembly of greenhouse and loggia frames
• Structural bonding of dissimilar materials to metals

The main characteristics of this adhesive are:

• excellent adhesion to various metals
• peel strength of the adhesive bond
• moisture resistance and resistance to aggressive media 9 0006

690 2K MS KLEBER

Adhesive for fast and permanent bonding of metal to metal, regardless of the surface area of ​​contact and bonding ideal 2-component 690 2K MS KLEBER is a fast-fixing industrial strong elastic adhesive.

This powerful adhesive is used in assembly processes on both sheet and structural (corner) surfaces.

Thanks to its fast setting and adhesive strength, 690 2K MS KLEBER is used:

• in metal-to-metal bonding in the production and assembly of elevators
• in structural bonding of metals
• in the production of doors, in fixing honeycomb panel elements
• when gluing caravans, kungs, containers and other types of gluing in transport
• cabins of special equipment and elements of construction and agricultural machinery
• agrotechnical structures of elevators and boxes

The main characteristics of this adhesive are:

• high setting speed
• strength of adhesive bond
• durability of adhesive bond

independence from air moisture and open space

PURAFLEX 9155

If the question of how to glue metal to metal concerns you without reference to the adhesion time, but you need strong, fast and firm bonding without shifts and displacements, then PURAFLEX 9155 one-component adhesive for industrial bonding of metals is just what you need.

This adhesive, being one-component and having a lower price than 690 2K MS KLEBER, although not inferior to it in strength adhesive characteristics, is more in demand in small-scale and economical production of small industries. It is used in assembly technical processes when working with both sheet and structural (angular) surfaces.

Applications same as for 690 2K MS KLEBER

In addition, PURAFLEX 9155 is used in machine tool assembly, bonding metal guides, body parts, handles, escutcheons, scales, construction work for gluing a wide range of elements and structures.

Main characteristics of this adhesive:

• high shore hardness 80
• bond strength
• bond durability
• fast and powerful bonding even on vertical surfaces
• no need to fix the elements until the adhesive is completely dry

PURAFLEX 9140

This is a particularly strong, deformation assembly adhesive for gluing metal to metal.

But, since it does not have such a high shore hardness as PURAFLEX 9155, it is used in highly loaded, deformation bonding.

That is, if the question of how to glue metal to metal is considered in relation to vibrating surfaces or vibrating structures, then the use of PURAFLEX 9140 is justifiably necessary.

When bonding a metal surface to another surface or to a metal structure, it must be taken into account that the adhesive must compensate for external vibrational deformations.

For this, the adhesive layer must be thicker, i.e. the gap between the surfaces to be bonded must be larger than when working with rigid bonding.

This means that the consumption of PURAFLEX 9140 will also be slightly higher than with other adhesives.

The main characteristics of this adhesive:

• low hardness 40 Shore
• remaining elastic, even after full setting
• high adhesion not only to metal surfaces
• strength of adhesive contact with the surface
• high tear strength
• durability adhesive bond
• excellent performance for deformation

PURAFLEX 9140 is indispensable in the production of metal doors, industrial bonding of glass to metal in the manufacture of windows and balcony doors, bonding polycarbonate and artificial glass structures, bonding mirrors without damaging the amalgam, bonding galvanized metals, etc.

This material is the intellectual property of SDM-CHEMIA LLC.
Any use of the Materials is allowed only with an indication of the source of information

Author: Sysoev Konstantin Evgenievich

How to glue rubber to metal with glue, recommendations, methods

Solving the problem of how to glue rubber to metal in a car, you have to choose between adhesives based on rubber liquefied in special substances. While curing, they retain dimensionlessness, due to which they can be used to glue materials that differ in structure. As a rule, such adhesives not only connect tightly elements, but also additionally perform the function of a sealant.

High strength adhesive for rubber and metal adhesive for rubber and metal

Strong fastening is able to provide a compound with high adhesive properties. Only then will rubber and metal be connected with a reliable flexible seam. Good glue will penetrate into the smallest voids, seams, microscopic cracks and provide high-strength gluing of elements. Most compositions do not reduce their strength characteristics in the temperature range -40-+100⁰. Excellent adhesion to both one material and another is also important. The composition should not only be good weld surfaces to each other, but also withstand weather conditions well, have no pungent odor, be safe for humans and the environment.

When choosing, you should additionally pay attention to such important points:

• humidity characteristics of the room;
• the temperature at which the parts that have passed with gluing will be operated so that after polymerization the adhesive retains its properties;
• the magnitude of the load experienced by the glued elements;
• flexibility requirements for a part that will have to be glued tightly;
• resistance to chemical aggression, which the substance exhibits in relation to the treated surfaces.

In addition to rubber, various additives are present in such compositions. Based on the characteristics of additional components, chloroprene, butadiene-nitrile, organosilicon masses are isolated. The first of them is characterized by the bonding of rubber to metal, which is provided due to the presence of metal oxides. Used for complex connections. The second composition includes sulfur and thiurams, due to which vulcanization occurs. These additives allow you to get a waterproof seam.

An example of a good chloroprene formulation is Chemosil. Good sealant, adheres to most alloys, polar and metal polymer substrates. Most of its grades are used individually for oil-resistant rubber, which is based on nitrile rubbers, provided that dynamic loads do not act on the part. This happens when the machine requires repair of the oil protection rings of the bearings.

The organosilicon group most often finds use in auto repair shops when the car needs rubber parts to be repaired. When connecting dissimilar materials, not only glue is used for gluing rubber with rubber-based metal, but also compositions based on cyanoacrylates, epoxy resins. It can also be glued by cold welding.

In addition to the above two-component adhesive may also contain diluents such as compounds with chlorine, fragrances, ethyl acetate with nefras.

If you need an adhesive for rubber and metal, “liquid rubber” is the best option. It will create a high-strength, but visually imperceptible seam. When silicone additives are present in the rubber, fluid materials formulations are suitable. An important nuance is plastic. If the compound is constantly in sight, compounds with transparency are needed.

Key features

There are a lot of variations of such a product as glue, so its characteristics may differ. A large assortment allows you to choose the right option for each specific case. Gluing with mass allows the seam to be even under water. The composition in contact with the environment does not show signs of toxicity.

It does not affect the surface of the material to be glued. Does not form a rusty layer on metal. Wood under its influence does not rot. A film forms on the cardboard. All of these properties can have universal compositions. They can be glued to such material as rubber, used as a sealant.

Features of the bonding process

Connection rubber-metal can be made in two main ways:

• hot ;
• cold mount.

In the first case, ebonite and glue are used, while the second is considered less reliable and more suitable for sound and heat insulation. This method is implemented using special boilers in which vulcanization takes place. Elements that need gluing are heated by steam or electricity. Due to vulcanization, the rubber deforms and sticks to the metal. Most qualitatively, if the metal is covered with brass. The seam turns out to be petrol-resistant, vibration-resistant, heat-resistant (withstands temperatures up to 150⁰). In other cases, glue is used to glue dissimilar surfaces. To avoid difficulties with the dosage of the latter, you can use a glue gun.

It is possible to glue in a cold way, using any compounds. The drying time is quite long – 2-3 days. With the second method, metal can be welded with quick drying – for a maximum of 3 hours. Rubber must be cleaned before gluing. Also, before you start gluing, you need to clean, degrease the metal. The mass is applied to the metal, the time specified in the instructions, kept for the first setting. Next, the metal is covered with a second layer, then rubber is pressed against it. How long the mount will dry out is also indicated in the instructions. Before starting the procedure, the viscosity of the mass is estimated.