Identifying a foam rubber

Sep 24, 2021 Last reply: 4 years ago 9 Replies
R

I have an accessory that fits on my Thule Roof rack .... it has 'foam rubber' padding over the bars. In one place the rubber has ripped ... no enough to warrant replacing, the flap would glue back down nicely if I can identify the material. (Thule could not say what it is)



To ensure I use the most appropriate glue, I need to know what the foam rubber is .... it appears to be similar to Neoprene Closed Cell, is there an easy way to confirm what it is ? Chloroprene / Neoprene - CR Neoprene / EDPM Styrene and butadiene foam rubber - SBR



The product has a smooth outer skin



A pic of the material showing the 'end 'grain' is loaded here:

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C

If it is closed cell neoprene, as you think it might be, ISTR that wetsuits beloved of surfers are made of closed cell neoprene. They certainly used to be. There are any number of adhesives for wetsuit repair.

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N

+1, neoprene would be a good bet. Contact adhesives will generally work on most "foam rubbers".

The quick and dirty test would be to cook a bit to charring in a pyrex test tube, and test the smoke with damp "blue litmus" paper. The HCl will turn it red. Same test for PVC.

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T

Try a "burn test"... something like:

"Guide to the identification of different polymers by burning on direct flame"

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Thomas Prufer

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R

Agree I could do that, in same way I could gaffa tape. As the flap is lifted, want to repair with a glue so not noticeable.

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N

Yes, that's another useful one.

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R

When we used to make wetsuits from unlined neoprene (no sewing) we glued neoprene tape on the seams. I couldn't tell if you rubber needs to be free to move or if it can be glued down but some sort of tape on the insider might help.

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T

contact or possibly CA.

Also polyurethane style glues.

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