Over the last twenty years, there have been changes in certain aspects of the rubber-to-metal bonding process. Examples are the increased use of injection moulding, higher performance demands (especially those on automotive antivibration parts regarding heat and corrosion resistance), and the implementation of adhesives that are free of hazardous materials (such as lead). The future promises to bring more changes to those companies involved in manufacturing bonded components. New elastomeric materials and substrates to be bonded, regulations affecting emission of volatile products and ever-changing performance demands will require new products and technologies from the suppliers of rubber-to-metal adhesives to meet the needs of the industry.

For antivibration characteristics, natural rubber (NR) is still the material of choice in bonded components. However, with tougher requirements for heat resistance and longer service life (especially in automotive applications), NR is nearing its limit as a useful material. This is especially true of NR cured with sulfur or sulfur donors. Advances have been made in the development of new cure systems for NR based on either diurethane technology (Tradename NOVOR, sold by Elgem Technology) or peroxide plus co-curative chemistry. Elastomers cured via the non-sulfur approach have better heat resistance than their sulfur cured counterparts, but may be more difficult to bond with conventional adhesives.

Automobile component manufacturers are working to develop compounds based on other elastomer types (HNBR, silicone, peroxide-cured EPDM) that have better heat and ozone resistance, while still maintaining acceptable antivibration properties. New adhesive chemistries may be needed to bond these compounds.