Rubber-to-metal bonded assemblies are found in a growing number of industrial applications,
particularly for the reduction of vibration, for example in the automotive industry.
The so-called “vulcanization bonding process” consists of molding the rubber onto a
metallic surface, previously coated with a reactive adhesive system. The vulcanization of
the rubber and the curing of the adhesive then take place simultaneously during the
molding cure cycle. These reactions are coupled with multiple diffusion phenomena at the
interfaces between the different layers. The aim of the present work is to propose an
experimental approach for the understanding and modelling of these mechanisms. The
metal/adhesive/rubber reactive interface is reproduced in a rotational rheometer allowing
a rheokinetic characterization of the different reactions and diffusion-reaction phenomena
occurring during the process