Cyanoacrylate Glue

What is cyanoacrylate glue?

Cyanoacrylate is the generic name for substances such as methyl-2-cyanoacrylate, commonly referred to as super glue. In addition, there are medical cyanoacrylate glues based on 2-octyl cyanoacrylate.

Industrial Cyanoacrylate Glue

Cyanoacrylate adhesives are sometimes known as "instant adhesives" and are used in industrial bonding adhesives. Super glues are based on cyanoacrylates. The acronym "CA" is quite commonly used for industrial grades of cyanoacrylate adhesives.

Cyanoacrylate Glue Properties

In its liquid form, it consists of monomers of cyanoacrylate molecules, (C5H5NO2) an acrylic resin which rapidly polymerisess in the presence of water, forming long, strong chains, joining the bonded surfaces together. During setting, cyanoacrylate adhesives exude concentrated acetic acid.

Because the presence of moisture causes the cyanoacrylate glue to set up, exposure to moisture in the air can cause a tube or bottle of cyanoacrylate glue to become unusable over time. To prevent an opened container of cyanoacrylate glue from setting before use, it must be stored in an airtight jar or bottle, with a package of silica gel. Another important trait is that cyanoacrylate adhesives set up fast, often in less than a minute.

A normal cyanoacrylate bond reaches full strength in two hours, and is waterproof. There are also cyanoacrylate accelerants that can force a set-up as fast as two or three seconds, at some loss of strength.

Acetone, which is found in nail polish remover, is a commonly available solvent capable of softening cured cyanoacrylate glues. Cold temperatures cause a cyanoacrylate adhesive to become brittle. Cyanoacrylate adhesives bond can be weakened, allowing disassembly, by placing a cyanoacrylate glued object in a household freezer for several hours.

Uses - Cyanoacrylate Glues

Cyanoacrylate glue is a tenacious adhesive, particularly when used to bond non-porous materials or those that contain minute traces of water. As such a cyanoacrylate glue is very good at bonding body tissue. While this effect can be a nuisance (or even dangerous) for everyday use, it has been exploited for the benefit of suture-less surgery using cyanoacrylate adhesives.

Cyanoacrylate Glue History

Cyanoacrylates were discovered during World War II, when searching for a way to make synthetic gun-sights (a substitute for spider silk). Cyanoacrylates did not solve this problem, since cyanoacrylates stuck to the apparatus used to handle them. Later, cyanoacrylates were developed into a more useful form by the Eastman Kodak company in 1958. The term cyanoacrylates is used to refer to a range of cyanoacrylate adhesives based on similar chemistry.

Cyanoacrylate Glue - Additional Information

Please take the time to review our website to learn about cyanoacrylates and our cyanoacrylate products.

If you have any questions about our cyanoacrylate products, we would welcome the opportunity to speak with you on the phone (800) 964-6660 or email us at info@palmlabsadhesives.com.