Adhesives designed for bonding silicones to multiple substrates

Applying LORD IMB Adhesives to a rigid substrate provides a structural bond when over-molded with thermoplastic or liquid silicone rubber. This technology enables assemblies between plastics, silicones, and metals to be made during the molding process.

LORD Corporation Staff Scientist, Paul Wheeler said: “These two new adhesive systems, LORD IMB 3000 and 3010 do not require special surface preparation such as plasma or corona.”

Wheeler added: “This eliminates the need for complicated surface pre-treatments, precise environments and difficult-to-control kinetics. There are no moisture or atmosphere application limitations as with typical silane primers, and the LSR adhesives offer an environmentally friendly option."

Silanes must be applied as a very thin coating, sometimes less than 1µ, which is difficult to control and measure in a manufacturing setting or production environment. Most plastics require plasma treatment to create hydroxyl groups to promote silane bonding.

Manager, Global Business Development and Marketing Strategy at LORD Corporation, Eric Dean said:“The limitations with silane adhesive technology have created a market need for silicone adhesives that are easier to use and more effective on various substrates.”

Dean added: “More expensive self-bonding liquid silicone rubber often requires a similarly complicated process of pre-treatments and post-cure procedures also leaving manufacturers looking for a simple solution.”

Silicone polymers exhibit a myriad of unique properties that other materials are not able to achieve, combining rubbery flexibility with excellent thermal stability, durability, low-surface energy, biocompatibility, and a soft feel.

Applications for IMB Adhesives include consumer electronics, automotive components and medical devices. Compatible substrates for IMB adhesives include aluminium, anodisedaluminium, glass, steel/stainless steel, polycarbonate, select polyamides, and select thermoplastic elastomers.