How to glue foam rubber together. How to glue foam rubber together: tips

The first mention of foam rubber was recorded in Germany in 1941, where it was obtained by accidentally foaming polyurethane foam. Figuratively speaking, foam rubber is a material with a porous structure filled with air. The scope of application of this material is quite wide, it lends itself well to compression due to its elasticity, has excellent breathability and keeps its original shape. Most commonly used in furniture, sporting goods, car seats, soundproofing materials and stuffed animals. Also in everyday life it has multiple uses, it is used to produce various rollers for painting and cleaning. In Europe, it is customary to use this material as packaging for goods.

Using glue

Foam glue is quite easy to use. To apply it, it is best to purchase a special spray gun, for which you need to use a nozzle - nozzles up to 1.8 mm in diameter. The prepared composition can be sprayed in one layer, and if necessary, in two. The atmospheric pressure at the gun should be between three and six bar. After applying the foam rubber, a small film appears on the surface.

After the composition is sprayed, it is necessary to wait for the evaporation of the solvent. The duration can depend on many factors, such as air temperature, the number of layers applied and the speed of the wind if it occurs outdoors. The period for which it is necessary to connect two surfaces should not exceed 3 minutes, since during this period the composition will completely dry out. It is necessary to dock the two parts right away right away, since after the interaction of the prepared materials it will be impossible to correct the error. Before applying the glue for gluing the foam rubber, its temperature must be brought to +20 C, and then mixed well. These formulations are great for spring mattresses and upholstered furniture are also used to bond foams to wood, cardboard and textiles. In production, this substance is called furniture glue for foam rubber, as it is very often used in this industry.

The composition of the glue

For a very long time, the basis of the paste was styrene-butadiene, polyurethane and polychloroprene. Thanks to the development of technology, it has been possible to significantly reduce rubber and combustible components. To date, the new composition has the least negative impact on those who work with it, as well as users in the future, and causes minimal harm to the environment.

Odorless foam adhesive for water based is the safest in comparison with those that have solvents in the composition. Since it is odorless, it is comfortable to work with and does not emit toxins. The main advantage of such material is considered Fire safety... The advantages include the fact that less raw materials are consumed for the ultimate goal.

You can use a brush or spray gun to apply the glue. When using it, be sure to follow the instructions and adhere to safety precautions.

How to choose a quality adhesive?

The time has passed when the composition included flammable and toxic solvents, now they are more harmless. Such components are distinguished by instant adhesion and good elasticity of the seam. To the main advantages modern adhesives can be attributed:
- no flammable solvents;
- excellent sprayability from a pistol;
- soft and elastic seams;
- great content

The main characteristics of a quality product

In order not to be confused by the abundance of choice after arriving at the store, you need to know which glue for foam rubber is considered to be of high quality:
- it is very important that it provides a strong connection;
- you need to pay attention to the fact that this composition can glue not only pieces of foam rubber to each other, but also to fabric, leather, wood, synthetic winterizer, plastic and metal;
- it should not ignite;
- safe during application, as well as further use;
- it is also important that it is waterproof;
- at the end will make an elastic seam.

Features of good glue

The following differences can be distinguished that are used in adhesives for working with foam rubber:
- glue for foam rubber should not contain toluene, as well as all its analogues;
- after application, the composition should remain sticky and viscous for several minutes, as this is necessary for working with large areas;
- after opening the container, the material must be completely prepared for use, it does not need to be stirred and shaken.

Safety regulations

Experts say that it is best to apply the composition with a pistol or purchase it for foam rubber. Although no one forbids using a roller or brush, this method will be accompanied by a significant consumption of raw materials. The composition is practically odorless, but it is best to use it in rooms with good ventilation, so as not to get poisoned by toxins.

Before gluing several surfaces, you need to adhere to some rules:
- the surface is initially cleaned from grease, dust and dirt;
- glue for foam rubber must be applied thin layer and wait for the solvent vapors to evaporate;
- if one-sided application occurs, then the compound covers a more rigid surface;
- all procedures must be carried out only at room temperature. Otherwise, the glue can thicken and lose all its properties, which ultimately will have a strong effect on the finished product.

A material such as foam rubber is versatile. It is used both in large-scale industries and in needlework. It is characterized by its softness and porous texture, besides, the material has an attractive cost. At first glance, it may seem that gluing the foam rubber parts is a trifle, but it is not. We will tell you how you can fasten several parts so that they hold firmly.

It doesn't matter why you need it - for making furniture or crafts self made... The problem is that, due to their softness and porosity, the pieces of foam rubber do not adhere well to each other. But when choosing the right one adhesive composition you won't have any problems.

Why are foam parts so difficult to glue? O the explanation is very simple, because 90 percent of this material consists of air and only 10% is foam.

How to glue foam rubber at home? Of course, with glue. But when choosing, be sure to pay attention to its composition, consistency. First of all, give up the purchase too liquid glue, since it immediately absorbs into the porous texture and will not fulfill its function. It is desirable that it be thick enough.

As for the composition, it must contain a component such as polyuretin. In addition to this substance, the product must contain neoprene, as well as styrene-butadiene. If you see toluene or trichloroethane in the composition, refuse such a purchase. If you choose the wrong composition, the foam will deteriorate, become tough and change shape.

The viscosity index of the glue, which you should be guided by, is at least 100s and higher. Otherwise, the foam parts will not stick together. After applying the glue, it should "grab" and fix in 2-3 minutes.

The most popular and budgetary ones today are such adhesives as Rapid-100, Clay 88, BF-6. They are non-toxic, adhere well and are easy to use.

How to apply the glue?

It all depends on the composition, the manufacturer. The package must contain detailed instructions, in which the manufacturer indicated all the rules for using the product. The composition can be applied with a roller or brush, spray gun. After application, you need to wait a while (indicated in the instructions), then you can glue the parts. If you want to conserve glue, use a spray gun rather than a roller or brush.

Fabric and foam

The task becomes more complicated, but it is quite possible to complete it. Before applying glue to their surfaces, moisten them with a little water. Then apply the glue in a thin layer and wait 10 minutes, then apply another layer and glue the parts after five minutes.


Color spectrum

If it is important to you that the glue does not stand out, choose it by color. If this is not done, the seams may stand out too much.

Other options

If there is no opportunity or time to purchase glue, you can use the most common double-sided tape, which every home probably has. V in this case the result depends on the quality of the tape and on its ability to glue.

For everyone who is not afraid of manual labor and is used to making some pieces of furniture, toys, and other such necessary and practical things on their own, foam rubber should always be somewhere at hand. This soft, airy material was created by accident, but it is now difficult for furniture makers and designers to do without it. And this is understandable - glue foam rubber can be applied to almost all surfaces if the right adhesive is selected. It is not difficult to give a regular sheet of this material a little elasticity or rigidity, but for this you need to know how to glue foam rubber to another piece of the same or less thickness.

It is very pleasant and interesting to work with foam rubber - it is elastic and perfectly retains its original shape. It is enough to use a few simple tools and you can get beautiful and very practical things. And when the question arises of how to glue the foam rubber, then first of all you need to decide on the choice of glue. The adhesive composition is chosen viscous, otherwise it will quickly seep through the entire thickness of the foam rubber. And when it dries, then the entire impregnated area will become tough and can quickly lose shape. The adhesive must not react with the material to which it is applied. Therefore, it will be possible to glue the foam rubber qualitatively only with substances based on polyurethane or neoprene.

Most tested in furniture production consider "Rapid-100". It works more efficiently when it is necessary to glue the foam rubber fragments together. This composition does an excellent job with large sheets foam rubber. It is more convenient to apply the glue with a special gun, which injects the substance quickly and economically. "Rapid-100" dries up in just a few seconds, so you will have to work quickly. After applying the glue, the surfaces are squeezed tightly or left under pressure for a few minutes.

When the "home furniture maker" needs parts made of fabric, leather, wood or metal to work, glue foam rubber for these materials will help "Foam-2", "BF-6" or "88". The answer to the question how to glue foam rubber to a fabric surface can seem much more difficult than gluing pieces of foam together. To work you will need an iron, water and a piece soft tissue... The surfaces are prepared before gluing, having previously moistened with a little water and greased with glue. In just a few minutes, a small viscous film should form in this place. After 10 minutes, it will dry out and then you can grease this place again with glue. And only after 5 minutes, the surfaces are connected to each other and ironed with a not very hot iron, brushing gently over a damp cloth for steaming.

For metal parts or surfaces made of leather, wood fiberboard and cardboard, the question of how to glue the foam rubber forces first of all to take care of preliminary preparation before gluing. If there is a need for a primer, it is recommended to wait until it dries completely. Metal or wood fragments will have to be cleaned, degreased and dried very well (especially wooden parts). After applying the glue, all parts are pressed with a heavy object for a while for a snug fit and complete drying.

In whatever cases the question arises as to whether how to glue foam rubber, you should always pay attention to the choice of glue, to its composition (it must be harmless and not destroy the material to be glued) and density. Liquid glue can only spoil the foam rubber without achieving a strong and soft seam between the surfaces to be glued.

Good foam rubber as a material is popular in many fields of application for its ease of use: it is soft, easy to handle, and easy to cut.

Foam rubber is widely used in furniture production, becoming an almost irreplaceable filler for armchairs, sofas, chairs and mattresses.

Furniture production technologies quite often involve the process of gluing foam parts, which causes certain difficulties, since not every adhesive composition produced by the industry is suitable for working with foam rubber.

Why is this happening? There are several reasons for this.

Types of adhesives for foam rubber

At first, for gluing foam rubber for household purposes, adhesives containing trichloroethane or toluene are not suitable. These substances are very toxic and can cause a number of diseases, including malignant ones. In addition, they do not allow a high-quality glue line to be achieved.

Secondly, active substances, which are part of many adhesives, corrode the structure of the foam rubber, which does not allow a clear glue seam to be obtained.

Thirdly, too liquid formulations clog the porous structure of the material, thereby increasing the consumption of glue and the setting time of the parts.

To avoid such troubles, special adhesives designed specifically for this material should be used to work with foam rubber. Fortunately, manufacturers offer a wide range of items, but each of them has its own characteristics.

What do you need to turn to Special attention when choosing an adhesive, in order to get an elastic and high-quality seam when gluing foam parts?

  • The viscosity of the adhesive is one of the most important characteristics. To obtain an elastic seam, the viscosity must be at least 100 s.
  • A good glue for foam rubber should have a high solids content. This value is measured as a percentage and characterizes the ratio of the weight of the dry adhesive film to the weight of the liquid adhesive. The higher the dry residue, the faster the glue line hardens, which is important for high-quality gluing and reducing glue consumption.
  • It is desirable that the shade of the glue matches the shade of the foam, then the seam will be less noticeable.
  • The setting speed of the glue should be at least 2 minutes. This amount of time is the minimum required for gluing the foam rubber to various surfaces.
  • Spray adhesives for foam rubber are especially convenient - they reduce the amount of used composition, penetrate into the most inaccessible places, do not clog the pores of the material and quickly set.

How to glue foam rubber

Professionals believe that the composition of glue for foam rubber is close in composition to shoe glue. That is, it is based on derivatives of neoprene, polyurethane, butadiene styrene. Let's take a closer look at the brands of foam glue.


    Glue "Rapid-100" is a non-flammable substance, does not contain solvents. The setting time is a few seconds, it forms an even strong seam.

    Glue "88 for foam rubber" is ready to use, does not require mixing of components. The seam after applying this glue is strong, elastic, frost-resistant. Allows you to work with large glued surfaces due to the fact that it remains sticky for a long time. When working with "88", it is enough to apply one layer of glue, after which the parts are connected and pressed. The resulting seam must be ironed through a dry cloth.

    BF-6 (foam rubber) is also good for gluing foam parts. Professionals appreciate it for its ease of use and safety. When working with BF-6, it must be remembered that the surfaces to be glued (foam rubber + fabric, foam rubber + wood) must be slightly moistened, then apply the glue, wait until the sticky film dries up and stops sticking to your hands, then apply finishing layer glue and connect the parts. The seam itself must be ironed through a damp cloth with a damp iron.

    Saba glue is designed specifically for foam rubber, packaged in cans, easily sprayed with a gun, safe, non-flammable. Has a long hardening period, resistant to high temperatures, has increased adhesion, which makes it suitable for use on an industrial scale.

    Water-based adhesives are safe, economical to use, and provide a strong and high temperature resistant bond. Water-based formulations do not contain toxic substances and do not have a strong odor. Their only drawback is that they consist of two components - the glue itself and the activator, which must be thoroughly mixed before use.

    Glue "Olimpur" is produced on a water basis, it is applied not in a continuous layer, but in a dotted manner. It adheres well to plywood, drywall, plastered surfaces.

    Glue "Foam-2" is specially designed for working with foam in furniture production. This universal composition intended for bonding foam surfaces and combinations of foam rubber with other materials, such as metal, wood, fiberboard, cardboard and drywall, fabric, leather, rubber, etc. The contact surface (not foam rubber) intended for bonding is pre-cleaned, degreased and dried, then it is coated with glue and pressed.

Important: Make sure that the surfaces to be bonded are clean, dry and free from grease. The amount of glue should be moderate. Room temperature is desirable in the room, otherwise the glue will thicken, which will lead to an increase in its consumption and a decrease in the quality of the glue line.

The process of gluing foam parts

    The edges of the cut and prepared parts are greased with glue using a roller, spray gun or brush. If you are using a paintbrush, be prepared for a lot more glue. The gun is more economical - when using it, the consumption of the composition will not exceed 70 grams per square centimeter material.

    If the instructions indicate that some time should pass after applying the glue, it is necessary to withstand it. This period can range from a few minutes to an hour, depending on the brand of glue.

    The parts are connected, pressed firmly or pressed down by a press until a strong elastic seam is formed.

Important: Before buying glue, carefully study the label or instructions in order to understand what kind of work the composition is intended for, what is its consumption rate and whether its expiration date has expired. Usually it does not exceed three years.

Foam rubber is considered versatile material... He found wide application, both in needlework and in large-scale industries. Differs in elasticity, soft porous texture and fairly low cost.

How to glue the foam rubber?

When providing additional density or softness of a certain product (whether it be furniture or handicrafts), it becomes necessary to glue foam sheets or their fragments together. But, given that this material is 90% air and only 10% foam, this is not so easy to do.

This also applies to those cases when the foam rubber needs to be glued to wood, leather, plastic, plywood or any other surface.

If you choose the right glue, you can easily solve this issue. The glue should be viscous (100c and higher), made on the basis of polyurethane, neoprene or styrene-butadiene, should not contain active substances that corrode the surface.

The most popular and available today are such compositions as Clay 88, Foamolon-2, Rapid-100, BF-6. These products are non-toxic, easy to use and, most importantly, they ideally glue the foam rubber, both to each other and to surfaces from another material.

How to apply the glue?

Regardless of the composition and manufacturer, the package must be spelled out step-by-step instruction by application. The adhesive can be applied with a brush, roller or special spray gun.

If you are bonding foam to leather or fabric, spray a little water on the surfaces before applying the glue. Wait 10 minutes, apply another layer of adhesive and only then join the parts.

Other options

If we are talking about small parts or decorative crafts, ordinary glue can be a good alternative.