Rubber Repair
Even in the best run and maintained manufacturing operation, it is inevitable that, at some time, a rubber lined piece of equipment will require repair. To cover such eventualities, proper rubber repair practices are described on the following pages. While repairs are necessary, they can vary from a tiny blister or crack to a major replacement of panels or an entire lining. When a major repair or complete relining is necessary, and the equipment is not too large for shipment, the best procedure is to remove it and send it to a tank lining shop. If it is too large for shipping, experienced tank lining applicators can do the work at your plant. In either case, years of life can be added to the rubber lined equipment through proper repair.
Preparation of Repair Area
a. All surfaces must be dry. Remove all loose or defective rubber, cutting back to areas of good adhesion.
b. Buff rubber to be lined over and blast or grind the exposed metal surface.
c. Wash the surface with clean solvent.
d. Apply cements and stock, using standard RMA procedures.
Repair of Soft Natural Rubber Linings
a. Use stock indicated on rubber lining specification sheet.
b. Apply cement system to metal surface.
c. Apply tack cement to buffed cured rubber surface. This may require more than one coat.
d. Apply tack cement to uncured rubber stock and primed metal surface.
e. Cure per lining specification.
f. If a chemical cure lining is being used, apply a minimum of two coats of ChemcureTM.
Rubber Repair of Synthetic Linings
a. Use same procedure as if repairing natural rubber, except use the appropriate primer and cements for the specific lining to be
repaired.
b. See the lining specification for the correct repair materials.