Anti-slip rubber pads play a critical role in ensuring load stability and preventing sliding during jack operation. However, in practical use, rubber pads may detach from the jack base or metal seat, leading to safety risks such as unstable lifting, surface damage, or sudden load slip. Understanding the root causes of pad detachment helps improve product design, material selection, and user safety.
1. Insufficient Adhesion Between Rubber Pad and Substrate
One of the most common reasons for detachment is inadequate bonding strength.
Typical factors include:
Poor surface treatment of the metal base before bonding
Contaminants such as oil, dust, or mold-release residue
Inadequate adhesive selection, especially for high-load or outdoor environments
Incorrect vulcanization or curing conditions that prevent full chemical bonding
If the adhesive layer is too thin, uneven, or improperly cured, the rubber pad is prone to peeling under load.
2. Excessive Compressive or Shear Load
Rubber pads experience vertical compression and lateral shear during jack use. Detachment may occur when:
The rubber layer is too thin, causing overstress
The pad area is too small, leading to concentrated forces
The jack is used on an uneven or sloped surface, increasing lateral shear
Overload conditions exceed the design limits of the pad
Under repeated high-load cycles, shear deformation can gradually break the adhesive interface.
3. Material Degradation from Environmental Exposure
Rubber materials degrade over time due to:
UV radiation
High or low temperature extremes
Oil, grease, or chemical exposure
Moisture absorption and hydrolysis
As rubber ages, it becomes brittle, loses elasticity, and detaches more easily from the substrate. Adhesives also degrade, accelerating detachment.
4. Improper Structural Design of the Rubber Pad
Design flaws also contribute to detachment:
Smooth bonding surfaces lacking mechanical interlock
No structural grooves, anchors, or locking features
Sharp edges that increase peeling stress concentration
Poor geometric matching between pad and jack base
Pads designed without mechanical support rely too heavily on adhesive strength alone, making detachment more likely.
5. Inadequate Injection Molding or Vulcanization Quality
Manufacturing defects can reduce bonding performance:
Incomplete vulcanization causing low tear strength
Internal air pockets or voids at the bonding interface
Uneven rubber thickness
Wrong molding temperature or pressure
These defects compromise structural integrity and make the pad more prone to peeling during load cycles.
6. Incorrect User Operation
Pad detachment can also result from improper use:
Using the jack on rough, sharp, or oily surfaces
Introducing side loads by improper lifting angles
Exceeding the jack’s load rating
Storing the jack in hot, wet, or chemical-filled environments
User misuse accelerates both pad wear and adhesive degradation.
Conclusion
Detachment of anti-slip rubber pads from jacks is typically caused by a combination of inadequate bonding, excessive loads, environmental degradation, structural design limitations, manufacturing defects, and improper user operation. By improving surface preparation, selecting high-strength adhesive systems, reinforcing pad geometry, optimizing rubber formulation, and educating users on correct operation, manufacturers can significantly reduce detachment failures and enhance lifting safety.
References
Gent, A. N. Engineering with Rubber: How to Design Rubber Components. Hanser Publishers.
ISO 20344 – Footwear Testing: Slip Resistance and Adhesion Tests for Rubber Materials.
Smith, J. (2021). “Failure Mechanisms of Bonded Rubber Components under Cyclic Loads.” Journal of Elastomer Failure Analysis.
Rivlin, R. S. (1948). “The Mechanics of Rubber Elasticity.” Proceedings of the Physical Society.
