Adhesives for Neoprene Foam

Neoprene Foams

Neoprene foam, also known as polychloroprene foam or sometimes sponge rubber, is a popular type of foam that is used in everything from automotive gaskets to sporting goods. It is an offshoot of neoprene rubber and can come in either an open-cell or closed-cell form, depending on the desired properties.

Open-cell neoprene foam is highly compressible and ideal for energy absorption applications. Closed-cell neoprene foam is strong, durable, and flexible. It is more resistant to moisture than open-cell neoprene. Both neoprene foams offer a good level of resistance to oils, grease, UV light, and high temperatures.

Are Neoprene Foams Easy to Bond?

While neoprene foam can be found in everything from wet suits to soundproofing, it is not that easy to find an adhesive for neoprene foam that will form strong or lasting bonds. The chemistry and surface of the material present several challenges for adhesive bonding.

Foams in general can be sensitive to solvents and high heat, so solvent-based adhesives and many standard hot melts can actually damage the surface of the foam. In addition, neoprene foams have a lower surface energy, which makes it harder for adhesives to wet out the surface and stick to the material. A specialized adhesive for low-surface energy materials is often needed to overcome this hurdle. In some cases, neoprene foams contain plasticizers that can weaken adhesive bonds over time.

Finding an adhesive for polychloroprene foam when it is in its closed-cell form comes with an additional challenge. The non-porous structure limits the ability of the adhesive to flow into the pores of the substrate’s surface and anchor onto it.

On top of finding a compatible glue for neoprene foam, you also need to take into account the application. If you are gluing neoprene foam to another material, the adhesive must also be compatible with both materials. Also, environmental factors such as temperature, movement, moisture exposure, and chemical exposure will impact which adhesive you should use.

While these neoprene adhesives are successful in many cases, every application has its own needs. If you are not sure if these products will work for your application, we can help with a product recommendation personalized to your needs.

How to Choose a Glue for Neoprene Foam

When it comes to selecting the right polychloroprene foam glue, you need to consider several factors, including:

• The type of neoprene foam and its properties
• The other substrate material, if applicable
• The strength and flexibility requirements
• The environmental conditions the bond will be exposed to
• The production process
• The open time, cure time, or set time

Once you have these details, you can begin evaluating which type of adhesive best fits your needs and priorities.

Here are some types of adhesives for neoprene foam and some key properties to help you start narrowing down your choices.

• Cyanoacrylates — instant bonding and high strength, less resistance to impact
• Foam-Safe Spray Adhesives — quick and even substrate coverage, especially for larger bonding areas
• Low-Temperature, Foam-Safe Hot Melts — versatile, quick cure times for faster production lines
• Neoprene-Specific Adhesives — good balance of flexibility and durability
• Structural Polyurethane Adhesives — balance of strength and flexibility

Once you decide on a particular type of adhesive, you can start looking at individual products. Always look at a product’s technical datasheet for specific product specifications and confirm that it is compatible with your needs.

How to Bond Neoprene Foam with Adhesive

Along with selecting the right neoprene foam glue, you need to ensure you take the right steps to apply it. Surface preparation can drastically impact how effective an adhesive is. Every adhesive is a little different, but in general, surface preparation for gluing neoprene foam involves the steps below.

• Clean the surface thoroughly to remove oil, dirt, or other contaminants. Be wary of harsh solvents that could damage the foam’s surface.
• When bonding neoprene foam to another substrate material, it may be recommended that you abrade or pretreat the other material’s surface. Always reclean the surface after abrasion.
• Apply a primer if recommended by the manufacturer.
• Allow the substrates to dry completely before applying the adhesive.
• Apply the adhesive evenly.
• Allow the adhesive to set before handling.

If you are worried about the effectiveness of an adhesive, you should test it first before incorporating it into your entire production line.

Need More Help?

We understand that finding an adhesive for neoprene foam can be involved, and you shouldn’t have to waste your time trying to figure it out on your own. With over fifty years of experience in the adhesives industry, we can take the guesswork out of picking an adhesive. Contact us, and we will discuss your application with you before suggesting some products that are best suited for the job.