Our patented Polymer Bonding Process (Patent No: 10,577,521)
The Ultimate Guide on How To Bond All Silicone Types and Products
Silicone is the go to polymer when cushioning and/or sealing is the objective. There’s is an epoxy offered by a competitor that works OK. Once of our clients gave the following review:
“When working with silicone, people want a bond, not a smear glue or epoxy resin.”
Our patented Polymer Bonding Process (Process) doesn’t create ugly and more importantly, it works with unparalleled strength. Because of deficient results with a variety of products available today, some still believe that you cannot even really glue polymers,especiallysilicone rubber. Since we developed ourPolymer Bonding Process, we have learned a lot about bonding polymers. One discovered fact is thatsilicone rubberis actually a very difficult polymer toglue. It is not just getting silicone rubber to stick to something, the challenge is to get silicone rubber to form an adhesive bond.The most popular silicone adhseive products will merely stick the pieces together, but bonding with strength and flexibility, is another realm altogether.
Why is silicone rubber so difficult to glue? Fundamentally, the difficulty is that silicone rubber is anelastomer.From trial and error, we have learned that, with elastomers, pressure is needed to create a bond to any surface. Greater pressure than with polymers like nylon, HDPE, polypropylene, etc. Thekey tobonding any typeof siliconeis applyingextra firm pressurefor fifteen seconds, when the two surfaces are brought together. When this technique is used in conjunctionwith theProcess, the silicone will be permanently, covalently bonded.
Our Process uses the laws of chemistry and the principles of Physics to create bonds. With elastomers, pressure effectively increases the surface area area available to bond. With the added pressure, the Process will bond silicone to itself, to any other polymer and/or to any other substrate quickly, easily and permanently. The steps of the Process are outlined later down the page. There is one type of silicone,platinum-cured silicone rubber, that requires extra steps to generate the results that you want. The details of the special treatment needed for platinum-cured silicone are at the bottom of this page.
100% Customer Satisfaction Guarantee
Whenever and wherever we state that we can bond silicone rubber, the reaction is skepticism. Skeptics are the reason why we have our100% customer satisfaction guarantee. If any of our products or kits, do not meet your performance expectations, we will refund your purchase price. Simply return the item.
The Secret to our patented Polymer Bonding Process
What’s the secret of thePolymer Bonding Process? It’s the chemical and molecular reaction created when we combine:
- a polymer-enhanced, Surface Insensitive Structural Adhesive;
- our standard Activator/Accelerator, (the chemistry)
- the Poly Prep (chemistry again)
- Heat (the molecular reaction part of the process.)
The Poly Kit
To bond polymers, you need at least a Poly Kit. Our Poly Kit (shown below) includes;
- an SI Structural Adhesive, either our standard SI Blue, our thicker SI Black or the ultra-thin SI Green.
- our standard Activator/Accelerator,
- the Poly Prep,
- a detailed step-by-step instruction sheet.
A comment from one of our Poly Kit users.
Dear Don…no worries…I’d like to order some more…this stuff is the bomb and has worked perfectly on my slippery silicone …can’t thank you enoughCan you hold on that shipment so I can add to it …if not …no problem
Clare’s work.
Let your creativity flow
Over the years, we have worked with a number of artists who were trying to use polymers in their art. Suffice it to say that they were ecstatic when they found a solution that worked. Plus, that solution wasn’t ugly. We won’t mention any names, but there are quite a few ugly ‘glues’ out there. Often, those artists worked with bands like the ones to the right. They worked with shoes, boots, scarves and purses. How can you unleash your creativity? Go for it.
RTV Silicone Types
RTV silicone molds are distinguished by the type of curing process they employ. The most common of these are platinum cured silicones (addition cure), peroxide cured silicones (free radical cure) and tin cured silicones (condensation cure). It is possible to bond all silicone mold types.
Platinum-cured Silicone Rubber
Two component platinum cured silicone rubber or platinum catalyzed silicone rubber or addition cure is extremely flexible, as well as strong. This flexibility and strength, combined with its library life, make it an ideal candidate for molecular bonding. More than applying a thick and clumsy sticky glue paste, a molecular bond is as it sounds. It forms a covalent bond between the two surfaces. With both the expensive cost of platinum and the precision required for accurate molds, bonding is really more of a must than a candidate. Paste epoxies that work by being sticky, simply do not provide adequate working time.
The molecular Process allows up to two minutes to perfectly align your platinum silicone, as long as you spray the Activator from the outside once bonded. The other bonding method calls for spraying the Activator on the opposite surface, but the bond with this method is almost immediate and does not provide ample working time. Platinum-cured silicone is often used in the food, beverage and medical sectors. Our molecular bonding system is food and dishwasher safe once dry.
Working with freshly minted platinum-cured silicone rubber is especially difficult. Chemical reactions are sill going on within freshly minted silicone rubber. Those reactions interfere with the chemical reactions critical to the Process. What is needed to offset the newness issue, is time. Once you firmly press the two pieces of freshly minted, platinum-cured silicone rubber together for the fifteen seconds necessitated by the Process, you need to give the result time.
Give the new/repaired piece a minimum of twenty-four hours to cure. Then you can put the piece back into use. More mature platinum-cured silicone rubber is easier to bond, but we still recommend the wait for allplatinum-cured silicone rubbers. Platinum cured silicone is the most transparent silicone. Our surface insensitive adhesive and bonding tools dry clear. The sheer and tensile strength of platinum silicone, necessitate the need for a strong bond. Be sure to apply firm pressure and allow for the curing time.
Peroxide-cured Silicone Rubber
There are a lot of positive aspects to peroxide-cured silicone rubber or peroxide catalyst silicones. Peroxide cured silicone rubber is easier to process, has a good shelf life and is usually less expensive. This type of silicone works by utilizing high temperatures to break down the peroxide and this in turn crosslinks the polymers. Bonding peroxide cured silicone is not that much different from bonding the platinum-cured. Extra firm pressure and a 24 hour cure time are necessary to achieve a strong bond.
With this type of silicone, it is also important to remember to wipe off any talc if used. If the talc is not completely wiped off, it will interfere with the bonding poly process. This was one of the first type of silicones used and is still in use today. It is imperative to make sure this silicone is fully cured before bonding, to ensure that it fully crosslinks and does not leave behind peroxide byproducts. This result would not only effect the strength of the material itself, but the strength of the bond.
Tin-cured Silicone Rubber
Tin-cured silicone rubber or tin catalyzed silicone rubber or condensation cure is the least expensive silicone, as well as the most rugged. Its performance properties are utilized in the casting of urethane, epoxy and polyester resins. There are several downfalls to the tin-cured method. Tin-cured molds are more susceptible to shrinkage and have a library life that can be as short as 1 year. At the end of this year of library life, the mold is prone to tearing.
In the past the only real option was to discard the mold. Now advances in tin-cured rubber have extended the life of this silicone beyond 5 years in some instances and our Bonding Poly Process allows you to easily bond tin-cured silicone rubber. Repairing tin-cured silicone tears used to fail as people tried to ‘glue‘ them. Glue joins are superficial and oxygen exposed; oxygen degrades the sticky join. If a glue or epoxy was successful and did manage to ‘stick’ the two pieces of silicone together, the repairs were brittle, inflexible and like the silicone itself….prone to breaking.
Our molecular bonding system by contrast, is anaerobic. The intertwined covalent bonds block the oxygen and all bond degrading particulates from weakening the repair. To that end, we offer a performance guarantee of the bond, for the life of the material. One of the many advantages of molecular bonding, is that the bond takes on the characteristics of whatever it is bonded to. Tin-cured silicone is extremely flexible and therefore so is the bond. For maximum pliability, replace the Activator with extra firm pressure for one full minute and then allow the 24 hour curing time.
Silicone Product Repair
Everything from silicone prosthetic repair, to silicone goggle repair to silicone cpap mask repair to silicone gasket repair.
Silicone gaskets and rings
Silicone is the polymer of choice in extreme environments. such as the seals in an engine, or to seal many liquids in their containers. Replacements can be hard to find. The Process can repair a torn silicone gasket or a sliced O-ring. Bonds created with the Tech-Bond Molecular Bonding System are impervious or highly resistant to gas, oil, water, and most common liquids. Check the Technical Data Sheet for whether bonds will last with your fluid. Temperature range is -50 to 240 degrees F.
Repairing a Cpap Mask
See the white silicone cushion? Cpap users tear that cushion, which, from what we have been told, sometimes make the mask unusable. For this repair, a glob of glue is simply unacceptable. As always when you repair torn silicone in a Cpap mask, you will want to use the least amount of SI adhesive possible, which will eliminate the harness of other adhesives.
Prosthetic skin is a polymer
The skin of a prosthetic device is silicone of one type or another. The Process works on all forms of silicone. We understand that appearance is very important to amputees. Again the Process provides the best visual result of any adhesive on the market.
Selct your Poly Kit Option
Amputees are active.
There are amputees who have used our Tech-Patches to repair areas that are not visible. We’re talking about making a repair on a damaged foot where the foot is in a shoe. Not for everyone, but, in some cases, worth considering. We suggest that you call us to discuss because a 1 mm patch might works best for you.
More about Tech-Patches
Silicone seals diving masks
Polymers are the building blocks of modern manufacturing. Until now, however, polymers have been a stand alone solution. One of the companies that we are working with is bonding silicone to another polymer to create a better diving mask. How can you use the Process within your idea? Create a zero-leak full seal repair in your silicone diving mask.
BONDING REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS:
Silicone rubber to itself or to another poly surface.
- Use sandpaper or steel wool to rough the silicone rubber or poly surfaces.
- Clean the surfaces with a cleaner that will not leave a residue.
- Wipe with a soft cloth.
- Saturate thesilicone rubberor poly surfaces with our Poly Prep, an adhesion promoter for polymers.
- Spray one of the silicone rubber (poly) surfaces with our Activator/Accelerator (AA).
- Warm both poly surfaces with a hair dryer or heat gun. By touch, you want the silicone/poly just to below hot. By temperature, about 120 degrees F.
- Apply anSI Structural Adhesiveto the opposite surface from where you sprayed the AA. Make sure that the SI adhesive reaches the edges of the join.
- Very firmly Firmly press the two surfaces together for at least 15 seconds.
- Apply a bead of the SI Structural Adhesive to the seam between the surfaces.
- Spray the seam with the Activator/Accelerator.
As a result of this process, the two silicone rubber surfaces will be bonded. Operational strength is achieved almost immediately, but the strength of the bond is directly proportional to the amount of time it is given to fully cure.
To bond silicone rubber to steel; to bond silicone rubber to aluminum; to bond silicone rubber to metal.
- Rough the surface of silicone rubber with sandpaper or steel wool.
- Sand the steel, aluminum or metal first with a coarse grade of sand paper.
- Then sand the steel, aluminum or and the metal with a low-grit (400 or 600) coarse sand paper. You want a near white finish or steel or polished surface for aluminum and other metals. It makes a difference.
- Clean all surfaces with a cleaner that will not leave a residue.
- Wipe with a clean soft cloth.
- Saturate thesilicone rubbersurface with our Poly Prep, an adhesion promoter for polymers.
- Spray a solvent based Activator/Accelerator (AA) on either the silicone rubber or metal.
- Warm the silicone rubber surface with a hair dryer or heat gun. By touch, you want the silicone/poly just to below hot. By temperature, about 120 degrees F.
- Apply anSI Structural Adhesiveto the opposite surface from where the AA was sprayed.
- Firmly press the two surfaces together for a minimum of fifteen seconds.
As a result of this process, the silicone rubber and metal surfaces are bonded. Operational strength is immediate, but the strength of the bond is directly proportional to the amount of time it is given to fully cure.
Modified Silicone Types
Fluorosilicone and methyl phenyl silicone.
Fluorosilicone rubbers (FSR)
Standard silicone is not resistant to gasoline. Fluorosilicone rubber, a type of silicone, is designed to resist solvents, fuels, oils and acids. It is the polymer of choice when dealing with corrosive environments. Like silicone, it is a long lasting elastomer that is stable and resistant to temperature extremes. FSR is usually peroxide-catalyzed and heat cured for performance. Also referred to as FVMQ, it is the material utilized in our patented Tech-Patch Repair System, for its unique properties. Its ozone and sunlight resistance, make it an ideal material to pair with permanent molecular bonds, to solve a wide array of problems, such as leaking pipe and gas tanks.
Fluorosilicone molecular bonds are particularly strong, due to the low abrasion resistance of the material. Follow the silicone to itself steps, for instruction on how to bond fluorosilicone elastomer. Standard glue does not have properties that enable it to either bond fluorosilicone rubber or withstand its wide array of oil, gas, weathering, heat, ozone and chemical resistance. A permanent anaerobic bond is required, if you want your repair of fluorosilicone, to withstand the conditions the material was designed for.
Methyl Phenyl Silicones
Methyl phenyl silicone is a specialty silicone product with increased phenyl concentration. The addition of phenyl in replace of methyl, offers specific enhancements not present in standard silicone rubber. These improved characteristics include oxidation resistance, thermal stability, shear strength, visual clarity, radiation resistance, severe temperature resistance, severe pressure resistance, electric insulation and imperviousness to nearly all chemicals. Methyl phenyl silicones are the silicones used to produce permanent, non-stick coatings in pots and pans, that can withstand extremely high heat.
It is important to note all of these extraordinary properties when attempting to ‘glue‘ or bond methyl phenyl silicones. Our conductive bonding agent and subsequent bonding poly process can withstand a pressure, shear and tensile strength in the range of 2500 psi and below. We recommend avoiding bonding application where the temperature would rise above 240 degrees Fahrenheit. Our surface insensitive adhesive bonds are also impervious to nearly all chemicals. Most ‘super’ glues and epoxies are not able to withstand the specific extremes methyl phenyl silicones were designed for. Below is a picture of methyl phenyl silicone resin.
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Online Store- Any of our Poly, Deluxe or Professional Kits will bond Silicone to itself and any other substrate; except stainless steel and glass.
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More About Molecular Bonding
If you have any questions, feel free to call 877-565-7225.
To Read Or Leave A Review of Your Silicone Molecular Bonding experience…..scroll to the bottom of the page for non-Amp version.
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Poly Molecular Bonding Kit- For Silicone Rubber
Average rating:
4 reviews
Jason Taves
Jan 24, 2021
byJason Taves
More than epoxy goo
I first tried using that silicone epoxy. It was the first thing to pop up and the reviews seemed halfway decent, so I bought it. I don't know what those other people are gluing, but it isn't silicone. Either that, or they dont need anything that holds with strength. This has more to it than just slopping on some epoxy goo and crossing your fingers. But it is not at all hard or complicated and a million times more effective.
David I
Jan 9, 2021
byDavid I
Works Great
The handle broke on my silicone spatula. It separated completely and a 1/4 X 1 inch piece broke out of the handle. I could not find a replacement, so I attempted several times to repair the handle. Nothing lasted until I found this kit. It works great. I followed the directions and now have a tight bond that seems stronger than when it was new.
Pete Kircher
Jan 9, 2021
byPete Kircher
Top Notch Bonding
Not your average adhesive. Endless uses. Oil, water, gas doesn't touch it. I have used both the tech-bond kits and patches, to do all sorts of repairs.......including silicone. Does exactly what it says it will do. Needs to be seen to be believed. Getting things back apart without destroying them is not possible. Overall I would rate your products a 10+. I will order again.
Christoper Wren
Jan 9, 2021
byChristoper Wren
Amazing Performance
I bought the standard poly kit and used it to bond a high performance silicone vaccuum hose. I needed something that would be able to handle higher temperatures, stay flexible and be resistant to chemicals. This is the only product I have been able to find that actually works, let alone will stay flexible and not break apart when it gets hot or is exposed to coolant. Amazing performance. Definitely recommend.
Greetings, enthusiasts of silicone bonding technologies. As an expert in polymer bonding processes, I bring forth a wealth of knowledge and hands-on experience in the realm of silicone bonding, particularly through our patented Polymer Bonding Process (Patent No: 10,577,521). The following discussion will provide an in-depth understanding of various concepts used in the provided article, shedding light on the intricacies of silicone bonding and our revolutionary process.
Our Polymer Bonding Process addresses a common challenge in bonding silicone rubber, a polymer known for its elastomeric nature. Through extensive trial and error, we've discovered that elastomers, such as silicone rubber, require significant pressure for effective bonding, surpassing the pressure needed for other polymers like nylon, HDPE, and polypropylene. This insight is crucial for understanding why silicone rubber is considered difficult to bond.
The key to successful silicone bonding lies in applying extra firm pressure for fifteen seconds when bringing the two surfaces together, coupled with our patented Polymer Bonding Process. This process utilizes the principles of chemistry and physics to create covalent bonds. With elastomers like silicone, pressure increases the available surface area for bonding. When combined with our process, silicone can be permanently, covalently bonded to itself, other polymers, or substrates.
The heart of our Polymer Bonding Process lies in a combination of components: a polymer-enhanced, Surface Insensitive Structural Adhesive; an Activator/Accelerator; Poly Prep; and heat. This unique blend creates a chemical and molecular reaction, resulting in unparalleled strength and flexibility in silicone bonding. Our Poly Kit, including the SI Structural Adhesive, Activator/Accelerator, Poly Prep, and detailed instructions, empowers users to achieve exceptional bonding results.
For platinum-cured silicone rubber, an additional step is needed due to its unique characteristics. Freshly minted platinum-cured silicone rubber requires time to offset ongoing chemical reactions within the material. A minimum of twenty-four hours is recommended for the cured bond to reach its full strength and durability.
The article delves into different types of silicone rubber, such as platinum-cured, peroxide-cured, and tin-cured. Each type has its specific bonding requirements, with our Polymer Bonding Process accommodating them all. The instructions for bonding silicone rubber to itself, other polymers, and substrates are outlined meticulously, ensuring optimal results.
Furthermore, the article explores silicone product repair applications, including prosthetic repair, goggle repair, CPAP mask repair, and gasket repair. The versatility of our bonding process extends to diverse scenarios, offering impervious or highly resistant bonds to gas, oil, water, and various liquids.
The discussion on RTV silicone types, such as platinum-cured, peroxide-cured, and tin-cured, provides comprehensive insights into their characteristics, bonding requirements, and the effectiveness of our molecular bonding system.
Additionally, the article highlights the repair of modified silicone types, namely fluorosilicone and methyl phenyl silicone. The distinctive properties of these silicones, including resistance to solvents, fuels, oils, acids, and extreme temperatures, make them suitable for specific applications. Our molecular bonding system ensures reliable and durable bonds even in challenging conditions.
The provided customer testimonials further attest to the effectiveness of our Polymer Bonding Process, with users praising its superiority over conventional epoxy options. The versatility of our bonding kits, demonstrated through applications in art, silicone gasket repair, diving masks, and more, showcases the broad spectrum of possibilities our technology unlocks.
In summary, our Polymer Bonding Process stands as a revolutionary approach to silicone bonding, addressing the challenges posed by elastomeric materials and providing unparalleled strength, flexibility, and durability. The comprehensive guide and testimonials underscore the effectiveness of our process in various applications, making it the ultimate solution for silicone bonding needs.
