Contact Adhesive

Nitrile rubber insulation is bonded with a solvent-based synthetic rubber contact adhesive, compatible with neoprene and nitrile. It bonds Nitrile Rubber Tube and Nitrile Rubber Sheet & Roll to pipes and ducts and to itself at seams and butt joints, forming a flexible bond line that moves with the insulation.

Apply contact adhesive by brush or roller to both surfaces, let it become touch-dry for about 5 to 10 minutes, then press the surfaces together firmly. Bonding while the adhesive is still wet gives a weak joint. Surfaces should be clean, dry and free of oil or dust.

Contact adhesive has an open time of 5 to 15 minutes, meaning the surfaces should be joined once the film is touch-dry and before this window closes. Coat only as much area as can be joined in time, especially in warm or windy conditions where solvent evaporates faster.

One litre of contact adhesive covers approximately 4 to 5 sq.m in a single coat on both surfaces. Actual consumption depends on surface texture, application method and the number of joints, so allow a margin when estimating quantities for a project.

Cured contact adhesive is rated for -20°C to +90°C. This suits chilled water, HVAC and refrigeration lines insulated with nitrile rubber. For hotter pipe surfaces, check the insulation material's own limits and the bond requirements before selecting the adhesive.

On chilled lines, every seam and butt joint of nitrile rubber insulation must be fully bonded with contact adhesive, because any gap lets humid air reach the cold pipe and condense. Closed-cell insulation only works as a vapor-tight system when its joints are sealed, so both surfaces should be coated.

Contact adhesive in this catalogue is referenced to ASTM D816, a standard covering test methods for rubber cements. If your project requires particular test documentation for the adhesive, mention it in your enquiry and we will confirm what is available with the quotation.

Contact adhesive is shipped under HS code 35061000, the heading for prepared adhesives. As a solvent-based product, it may also need to be declared for transport; tell us the destination and quantity so shipping requirements can be confirmed with the quotation.

Contact adhesive is supplied in 500 ml, 1 litre, 4 litre and 20 litre tins, packed in boxes. Smaller tins suit site crews and repairs, while 4 and 20 litre tins suit large nitrile rubber projects. It is often ordered together with Nitrile Rubber Tube and Sheet in the same shipment.