How to Glue Stainless Steel to Ceramic
If you're gluing stainless steel to ceramic, consider a few potential problems. First, you must find a glue that can deal with both non-porous and porous surface areas. Stainless steel is slick and glue traditionally doesn't adhere well to it. The second problem is that these materials have different expansion rates in warm weather. This means the glue must be flexible and not rigid.
Step 1
Roughen the surface of the stainless steel with a fine-grit sandpaper. This will create a better surface for the glue to adhere.
Step 2
Wipe the both the stainless steel and ceramic surfaces down with a damp towel to remove any dust or dirt that will prevent ideal adhesion.
Step 3
Apply glue-either industrial liquid nails or silicone adhesive--to the larger surface. The surface area the glue covers should be just less than the size of the part you are attaching to it.
Step 4
Place the attaching part to the glue. Press firmly to position the piece.
Step 5
Hold in place until the glue dries or use a vise or press to allow the glue to set. Ideally, give the glue 24 hours to dry and set completely.
Tips
- Silicone adhesives may soften under extreme heat but generally will not break the adhesion bond. This provides flexibility to the bond that may be required during material expansion in heated conditions.
Writer Bio
With more than 15 years of professional writing experience, Kimberlee finds it fun to take technical mumbo-jumbo and make it fun! Her first career was in financial services and insurance.
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