What is the rubber cap on a shaving cream can made out of?

[drewbdoo]

Hi y'all,

I am trying to figure out what material this red cap from my Gillette shaving cream can is made of. The reason is I am working on a personal project where I am trying to bond or glue something onto this piece, but nothing seems to stick or bond at all. At first I tried 2 part epoxy and super glue to no avail. Then I concluded that the piece was made of silicone so I got a single silicone bonding agent on amazon ([URL unfurl="true"]https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00NGZHGFI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o04_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1[/url]).

This worked well on the silicone piece that I am glue TO the red part, but slid right off the red part.

Please let me know if you have any answers or kinds of adhesives that I can use to bond silicone tube TO the red cap. Thanks very much for your help!

 

[3DDave]

It could be a urethane.

 

[TugboatEng]

Is it really rubber? I thought that part was plastic.

 

[SnTMan]

You do any surface prep? Many molded parts surface contain mold release. Bad for bonding

Regards

Mike

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[LittleInch]

PVC?

Remember - More details = better answers
Also: If you get a response it's polite to respond to it.

 

[MintJulep]

Almost certainly to be one of

Polypropylene
Polyethylene
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

 

[drewbdoo]

Thanks for all of the responses.

No I did not do any surface prep. If you can't tell by the 'computer' next to my name, I don't have a lot of knowledge in this area.

Assuming that it is made of one of the plastics mentioned, what should I use to surface prep it?

I will surface prep and try again. Thanks.

 

[dik]

We won't hold that against you... can you check with Masterbond.com and see if they can recommend an adhesive. They have many types and some for very specific materials.

So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[EdStainless]

A fine file or some medium sandpaper will break the surface enough to allow bonding

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
P.E. Metallurgy, consulting work welcomed

 

[dik]

If possible, it's best the adhesive uses a chemical bond rather than a mechanical one.

So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[Tmoose]

There may be a material universal code cast right on the underside of the part.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

Then, as always, to satisfy a small boy's love of fire, there is this -

https://www.boedeker.com/Technical-Resources/Technical-Library/Plastic-Identification

 

[TugboatEng]

Dik, all bonds are electrical. No such thing as mechanical or chemical bonds.

 

[dik]

Sure... if you say so...

So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[SnTMan]

When perfoming TMooses' second test, it might be advisable to keep the flame well away from the pressurized can

The problem with sloppy work is that the supply FAR EXCEEDS the demand

 

[3DDave]

The cap should be removable.

 

[TugboatEng]

Dik, adhesion occurs when two materials exchange electrical charge, typically electrons. Adhesion is an electrical process.

 

[dik]

That's funny... I'd always heard that if it can't bond chemically, then the surface must be roughened so it could bond mechanically... dunno that's what I've heard... but, I'll look into it.

So strange to see the singularity approaching while the entire planet is rapidly turning into a hellscape. -John Coates

-Dik

 

[TugboatEng]

Roughening the surface exposes the less oxidized, more electrically active material below.

 

[drewbdoo]

Thanks for all the responses. I was able to roughen up the surface and break thru and now regular old super glue is working as I'd hoped.