Types of glue for foam rubber and rules for its use. How to glue foam rubber - the best brands and their advantages What glue can be used to glue foam rubber

One of the most common materials used in a large number of fields of activity is foam rubber. This material has a history of more than half a century, and the current name is derived from the name of the company from Norway “Porolon”, which supplied foam rubber to the USSR.

Foam rubber consists of 100% polyurethane foam (polyurethane foam), which contains air-filled cells. Since the size of the air cells is very small, the material has excellent breathability. Foam rubber is not susceptible to mold and is able to maintain its elastic properties in the temperature range from -40 to +90 degrees Celsius.

Due to its low cost, foam rubber has become widespread in furniture production, where it acts as a filler for beds, mattresses and other furniture items. Foam rubber is also used as packaging and soundproofing material, filler for soft toys, driver's seats, in sanitary and household items (dish sponges, body sponges) - the list goes on and on... There is even a separate type of foam rubber for medical purposes - memory foam rubber. It provides pressure relief on injured or burned areas of the body.

The disadvantages of foam rubber as a material include:

  1. Flammability. Foam rubber burns well and during the combustion process poisonous and toxic substances are released that can harm humans (especially in a fire).
  2. Low durability. Worn foam rubber loses its original elasticity, can stick together and easily crumble.

Often, foam rubber must be glued to hard and rigid objects, but not every glue allows for high-quality adhesion of the material to the surface.

Features of choice and types of glue for foam rubber

Selecting the right adhesive is not an easy task, and its solution directly affects the quality of gluing foam rubber to other materials. You should immediately reject the option of gluing with adhesives containing dangerous toxic substances. These substances include toluene and trichloroethane. The use of adhesives containing these substances may have Negative consequences for health, and the effectiveness of gluing leaves much to be desired.

Please note - you should not use adhesives containing substances that corrode foam rubber, as well as liquid formulations, capable of clogging the porous structure of the material.

It is advisable to glue foam rubber with special adhesives. Today on the market there is a large number of all kinds of adhesives.

Adhesives for foam rubber are divided into two types:

  • professional
  • for mass use.

Professional adhesive compositions are intended for furniture manufacturers and have a high cost. The more affordable ones are, accordingly, affordable and it won’t be difficult to purchase them.

One way or another, when choosing a glue you need to keep in mind some features:

  1. Elasticity. An adhesive whose viscosity is 100 s or more produces an elastic and aesthetically attractive seam at the adhesion site.
  2. Dry residue. The rate of hardening of the glue depends on the ratio of dry mass to the mass of the liquid substance: more dry residue - higher speed of glue hardening.
  3. Clutch speed. The composition should set within two minutes after application.
  4. Composition color. To ensure that the glue seam does not stand out too much, it is necessary to select glue with shades close to the shades of the things being glued.
  5. Packaging form. Glue in spray cans is the most convenient form of packaging. It is easy to apply even in the most hard to reach places, does not clog the pores of foam rubber and sets very quickly.

Taking into account the above, best choice There will be adhesives based on butadiene styrene, neoprene, polyurethane - they will allow you to glue foam rubber to almost any surface with the least difficulty.

Selection of adhesive composition

  • Rapid glue

Rapid glue has become especially popular various models. It contains no solvents, is not flammable, and when gluing it forms a strong and even seam. This glue sets quite quickly.

  • glue BF-6

The next representative of popular adhesives is BF-6. It perfectly glues foam parts together. Significant advantages of this glue include safety and ease of application. It has certain features when gluing:

  1. the surfaces to be glued must be moistened;
  2. the glue must be applied in two layers, and the first must be thin and dry before applying the second layer;
  3. After the glue has dried, the finished item is ironed along the glue seam with an iron through a damp cloth.
  • Foam glue 88

It became widespread in the 90s of the last century. It has a second “unofficial” name – “shoe”. The main adhesive composition is rubber. It can be classified as a ready-to-use adhesive, since it does not require mixing of individual components before use. In order to reliably glue the surfaces, applying a small layer of adhesive is enough.

The advantages of glue include:

  1. obtaining resistance to influence low temperatures seam;
  2. work with a large number of types of surfaces.
  • SABA glue

Among the representatives of adhesives in the form of spray cans, SABA glue can be distinguished. Application is done using a pistol. The main advantages of this glue:

  • non-flammability;
  • safety for humans;
  • resistance to high temperatures;
  • increased adhesion of glued materials.

The glue is great for use at home and in production.

  • Foam rubber 2

Foam rubber 2 is also perfect for gluing surfaces together. This glue is actively used in furniture manufacturing enterprises. Using this glue you can attach foam rubber to materials such as wood, metal surfaces, chipboard and fibreboard, cardboard, plasterboard, fabrics, leather, rubber surfaces - the list goes on and on.

The surfaces to be bonded must be cleaned, degreased and dried - this will allow for better adhesion, ensuring the reliability and durability of the gluing.

  • Olimpur

The last one considered special adhesives there will be an Olimpur composition. This is an adhesive that has water base and requiring spot application on the surfaces to be bonded. Distinctive feature This composition has excellent adhesive ability with all kinds of building materials (plywood, drywall, plaster, fabric, etc.).

Testing alternative adhesives

All the adhesive compositions discussed above are, of course, good. However, a logical question arises: is there less worthy alternative professional teams? Of course it exists!

Let's consider and test the main alternative ways gluing foam products using commonly available products.

Glue "Titan" for ceiling tiles made of polystyrene.
average cost– 100-130 rubles for a container of 0.5 liters.

The disadvantages of this glue include the hard-touch seam and long time hardening (it took almost a day to dry completely!).

Universal glue “Crystal moment”
The average cost is 130-140 rubles per 125 ml bottle.


The list of bonded surfaces also includes foam rubber. In practice, this glue turned out to be a “strong average”.

Its actual adhesive surface turned out to be slightly above average - the foam stuck to a hard surface mediocrely, in some places it could be torn off without special effort. The glue pasted over the foam rubber and foam rubber quite well.

PVA glue (universal).
The average cost is 140 rubles per 250 g jar.

The method of gluing foam rubber with this composition turned out to be quite unexpected. In practice, several significant disadvantages have been identified: gluing foam rubber to an uneven surface requires fixing it to it with tape or another method of fixation, a long drying time - 1 day, the seam turned out to be quite rigid. Otherwise, the option is slightly below average; the ease of use of this method is far from ideal.

Double sided tape.
The average price is 50 rubles per 10 m roll.

It was not possible to glue foam rubber to foam rubber or to a hard surface. The adhesive tape quite expectedly showed weak adhesion of surfaces, so this method unsuitable for serious tasks.

The average cost is 50 rubles per stick.


The gluing method turned out to be quite good, but the seam turned out to be quite hard and tactile to the touch, which is not very good. If you need to glue large areas– this method will not work, since the glue quickly wears out and loses its properties.

Generally - good option for use at home.

Silicone sealant.
The average cost is 100-260 rubles per 250 ml tube.

The last composition considered for gluing foam rubber will be ordinary silicone sealant. This method has only one significant drawback- long drying time (about a day). Otherwise, the seam turned out to be soft, and the adhesion to a homogeneous surface (foam rubber), as well as to a hard one, turned out to be at a fairly good level.

Final conclusions

Summing up the testing results, we can make a rating of adhesive compositions, depending on their effectiveness.

In order from worst to best, the list looks like this:

  1. Double sided tape. Poor grip on all types of surfaces and a well-deserved “first place from last”.
  2. PVA glue. Due to the inelastic adhesive seam and the drying time of the bonded surfaces, the low price-quality ratio, PVA earns an honorable penultimate place.
  3. Glue "Titan". Long bonding time, non-elastic adhesive seam and 4th place on the list. Not recommended for gluing foam to foam.
  4. Honorable third place. The properties of hot-melt adhesive are similar to Titanium, it sticks well to a hard surface, but it is not recommended to glue foam rubber with foam rubber.
  5. Silicone sealant. Silver goes to silicone sealant. Good way gluing surfaces, gluing characteristics are slightly above average. The only significant disadvantage is the long drying time and the relative high cost of gluing.
  6. Universal glue “Crystal moment”. Among all alternative professional compositions, Crystal glue takes an honorable first place. Good gluing performance on any surface, soft seam, quick adhesion and hardening. The only fly in the ointment in this barrel of honey is that the cost of the glue is still quite high.

Features of gluing products made of foam rubber.

So, the appropriate adhesive has been selected, you can begin gluing the surfaces. However, there is no need to rush! It's still just beginning.

To ensure good adhesion of surfaces, you must first clean them of dirt and dust. Then it should be treated with a degreaser (White spirit is fine) and dried thoroughly. It is advisable to carry out gluing when room temperature to prevent the composition from thickening - a thick composition will lead to an increase in glue consumption and a significant deterioration in the quality of the seam.

When gluing products made of foam rubber, it is necessary to apply the composition strictly in accordance with the attached instructions: application with a brush, roller or spraying from a can.

The most in an economical way applying glue is a gun, while a brush gives a noticeable overspray per unit area.

As a rule, after applying the adhesive composition, you must wait a certain amount of time, usually specified in the instructions. The waiting time can range from one minute to two to three hours. Next, the parts are pressed against each other until a seam is formed.

In general, the process of gluing foam rubber is a rather delicate process, since foam rubber is filled with air and has a porous structure.

Foam rubber is popular finishing material, in demand in many industries. It is used in the manufacture upholstered furniture and packaging, for insulation and soundproofing of rooms, when finishing car interiors. The porous structure of this material creates some difficulties during gluing, which can be avoided if you use specialized glue for foam rubber and strictly follow the sequence of work.

Composition of adhesive

Regardless of the nature of the work, be it gluing sheets of foam rubber together or gluing them to wood, plywood, plastic, metal, the adhesive must provide a reliable, long-lasting connection.

Contact adhesives containing synthetic rubber and solvent have been specially developed for cellular polyurethane foam. Products with a neoprene, polyurethane or butadiene styrene base are optimal for working with this material. Many manufacturers add components to their products that increase adhesion and improve other properties of the adhesive.

In addition, foam glue can be water-based. This composition is safe, odorless and does not emit toxic elements, since it does not contain volatile substances in the form of a solvent, therefore it is often used in the manufacture of furniture. It can be one-component or two-component, and is highly economical.

Glue requirements

When answering the question of how to glue foam rubber, professionals say that the adhesive should not contain toluene or its analogues. This toxic substance, successfully used in the manufacture of other adhesives, is absolutely not suitable for gluing porous polyurethane foam.

But besides safety, there are other requirements for foam glue.

  • When choosing glue, you need to pay attention to its consistency. The adhesive should be thick and viscous. Very liquid glue will quickly absorb into the porous surface and will not be able to create a strong connection.
  • The time interval between applying the glue to the surface and the beginning of gluing of the coatings (gumming time) must be at least two minutes. This is very important when connecting surfaces with large areas.
  • The color of the composition is important. It is better if it does not differ much from the color of cellular polyurethane foam, then the seam will be neat and almost invisible.
  • For gluing large surfaces, it is more convenient to use a spray. The aerosol is easily sprayed over the surface, allowing you to deliver the product to the most inaccessible places. The structure of the spray is selected in such a way that the adhesive does not penetrate deep into the pores of the material, but remains on its surface, forming a thin film. Usually a standard cylinder is enough for 5 square meters. m of surface.
  • When deciding what kind of glue to glue foam rubber with, you need to inquire about the percentage of dry residue. The higher the percentage, the less shrinkage of the glue and the better all other characteristics. In two-component polyurethane compositions, the dry solids content is 100%, so such adhesives are ideal for gluing cellular material.

Release forms and brands

There are several compositions that allow you to create a strong and durable connection of foam rubber sheets with each other or with any other material. The most popular and sought after buyers are the following.

  • "Rapid 100". The Rapid-100 adhesive does not contain flammable solvents, therefore it does not ignite and does not emit toxic substances. Allows you to create an elastic seam that is very tear-resistant. Used in the furniture industry to connect pieces of foam rubber together.
  • "88". Adhesive for foam rubber “88” is easy to use, as it is sold ready-made. Provides a reliable elastic connection that is resistant to low temperatures. Used for making furniture and in other works when it is necessary to glue pieces together large sizes or combine foam and fabric.
  • Olimpur. Olimpur aerosol adhesive is water-based. The composition does not exude unpleasant odor and sets quickly. Using this product, you can glue foam rubber to plywood, drywall or plastered surfaces.
  • Saba. This brand of glue is available in cylinders; to use it you need to purchase a special gun. The composition is resistant to high temperatures, a long hardening period, and high adhesion.
  • "Porolon-2". Very popular furniture glue, which allows you to glue pieces of polyurethane foam both to each other and to other materials, in particular wood, plastic, metal, fabric, leather. The adhesive composition is based on synthetic rubber.

Self-adhesive foam rubber is used in the production of hats and interior items. It is a tape, one side of which is covered with an adhesive composition.

How to use glue?

When gluing foam rubber, the adhesive is applied to both surfaces using a brush, roller or a special glue gun. In the latter case, glue consumption is significantly reduced and amounts to only 70 g per square meter.

Gluing of foam rubber should be carried out at an air temperature of at least 15°C, and the surfaces must first be cleaned of grease and dirt.

The manufacturer includes instructions for each adhesive, which indicate the features of use. specific composition. But basically the rules for working with foam glue are the same.

  1. After cleaning the surfaces to be glued from dust and small debris, apply foam glue to them so that a film 3-5 mm thick is formed.
  2. Leave to dry for 10 minutes.
  3. Apply the second layer and wait 3 minutes, after which the surfaces are connected and pressed against each other.

When working with “88” or “BF-6”, the surfaces of the materials are moistened with water before applying the first adhesive layer.

How to glue foam rubber to plywood with your own hands?

To glue cellular polyurethane foam to wood or plywood, it is better to use a glue gun, which will allow you to carefully and economically spray the composition in those places where it is necessary.

The first step is to cut out the parts and fill the gun. Glue is applied to the surface of both foam rubber and plywood. Wait the time specified in the instructions, connect the parts and squeeze tightly together. If necessary, the future product can be placed under a press. If all steps are performed correctly, you will get a strong elastic seam.

Avoid contact of glue particles with mucous membranes and respiratory organs, and do not work near an open flame source.

The latest technologies make it possible to produce highly effective adhesives that allow creating reliable and durable adhesion of foam rubber to various materials. The main thing is to listen to the advice of experts and choose high-quality glue.

Material such as foam rubber is universal. It is used as large industries, and in needlework. It is distinguished by its softness and porous texture, and the material has an attractive price. At first glance, it may seem that gluing the foam parts is a trifle, but this is not so. We will tell you what you can use to fasten several parts so that they hold firmly.

It doesn’t matter why you needed 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 stick well to each other. But if you choose the right adhesive composition, you will not have any problems.

Why are foam parts so difficult to glue together? ABOUT 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 and consistency. First of all, refuse to buy too liquid glue, since it immediately absorbs into the porous texture and will not perform its function. It is desirable that it be thick enough.

As for the composition, it should contain such a component as polyurethine. 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 rigid and change shape.

The glue viscosity index that you should focus on is at least 100c and above. Otherwise, the foam parts will not stick together. After applying the glue, it should “grasp” and secure itself in 2-3 minutes.

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

How to apply glue?

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

Fabric and foam rubber

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


Color spectrum

If it is important for 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. In this case, the result depends on the quality of the tape and its ability to glue.

Why do people have a question: how to glue foam rubber to wood?

In most cases, this is asked by people who have already tried to glue foam rubber with their usual glue, but the seam turned out to be too rough and untidy, or the entire structure fell apart in the first few hours.

The fact is that gluing foam rubber is a very delicate process, since this construction material is not like others: it is porous and filled with air.

These properties allow it to easily absorb glue. This is why problems arise with attaching foam rubber to wood, and finding an adhesive suitable for this procedure is a real success.

Foam rubber is called elastic polyurethane foam (gas-filled plastic).

This name was attached to the substance due to the fact that Soviet time it was delivered to the country mainly by the Scandinavian factory “Porolon”, in honor of which the name of the construction plant was given.

Nowadays foam rubber is a light foam, 90% of its mass is ordinary air.

But, nevertheless, the material is very useful in construction.

It is used for:

  • insulation and sound insulation (due to its air and sound tightness)
  • packaging some valuable items
  • imparting elasticity to products
  • stuffing furniture
  • production of sponges and other goods

Foam rubber is also used in the production of headphones for shock absorption and as a softening, or support material when creating all kinds of products. That's why it's so useful in .

How to choose an adhesive for gluing foam rubber to wood

The problem of attaching foam rubber to wood is relevant for any person who decides to try his hand at self-production any products, since it is difficult to do without a combination of these two materials in production.

Meanwhile, choosing what to glue foam rubber to wood at home is not very easy.

After all, the glue, due to the structure of the material, must have a number of the following characteristics:

  • Its composition should not include corrosive components (trichloroethane, for example), because otherwise there is no need to talk about quality at all.
  • In no case should the glue be too liquid, because then the foam rubber will simply absorb it, and the seams will turn out hard and uneven. The ideal viscosity of the adhesive should be greater than 100c. Then the seams will be thin, even and aesthetically pleasing, while much less glue will be used.
  • If possible, select glue that matches the color of the product so that the seams fit as seamlessly as possible into the overall design.
  • Choose glue that takes a long time to set. Ideally, 2-3 minutes, because in order to carefully glue the foam rubber to the part you need to devote some time to the process.

Currently, many compounds have been developed that can be used to glue foam rubber to wood. PVA, for example.

This company, familiar to all of us from labor lessons in elementary school, actually produces many types of glue, including furniture glue, which is ideal for gluing foam rubber to wood.

Also optimal for this work is “Porolon 2”.

As you can tell from the name, this glue was invented specifically for creating products with foam rubber, and during its development all the subtleties of this work were taken into account.

The procedure for gluing foam rubber to wood

For gluing foam rubber it is better to use glue gun. This tool makes it possible to apply more accurate strips of glue only in the right places, which is much more practical than working with a brush. Let's get started:

  • First you need to prepare materials for work: cut out all the parts required sizes. If you have a glue gun available, refill it.
  • Next, apply glue to the product and wait for the time indicated on its packaging.
  • After the required time has passed, combine the parts together and compress them.

If the glue for foam rubber is chosen correctly and done carefully, the result should be a high-quality and beautiful product with elastic seams. That's all the secrets.

You can watch the video on how to replace foam rubber in a sofa:

Foam rubber is considered universal material. It has found wide application both in handicrafts and in large-scale industries. It is characterized by elasticity, soft porous texture and fairly low cost.

How to glue foam rubber?

When providing additional density or softness to a certain product (be it furniture or handmade crafts), the need arises for gluing foam sheets or their fragments together. But considering that this material is 90% air and only 10% foam, this is not so easy to do.

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

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

The most popular and accessible today are such compositions as Glue 88, Foam-2, Rapid-100, BF-6. These products are non-toxic, easy to use and, most importantly, perfectly glue foam rubber, both to each other and to surfaces of other materials.

How to apply glue?

Regardless of the composition and manufacturer, the packaging must indicate step-by-step instruction by application. You can apply the adhesive using a brush, roller or a special spray gun.

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

Other options

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