MenuWhat is Cyanoacrylate?
A Cyanoacrylate adhesive is a fast acting adhesive with industrial, medical and household applications.
It is composed of various esters of cyanoacrylic acid. The acryl group in the resin, that cures rapidly in the presence of water to form long, strong chains. This curing occurs almost instantaneously creating a strong, solid bond.
The more commonly known Super Glue is a type of Cyanoacrylate. Read below for more information about the difference and use scenarios.
History of Cyanoacrylate
Cyanoacrylate was initially discovered during WW2 in the US. It was deemed no use for the war effort, and was put aside and forgotten about. In 1951, cyanoacrylate was rediscovered and the commercial potential was realised. It took seven years from 1951 for cyanoacrylate to reach the commercial market. It was first sold as Eastman #910. The 9-10 stands for how long the original inventor believed it would take to set, 9 to 10 seconds. Since the 1960’s, the range of Cyanoacrylates has increased. You will find specialist adhesive types of cyano for specific industries and applications.
What is the science behind Cyanoacrylate Adhesives & how do they work?
Cyanoacrylate is an acrylic resin, that cures almost instantaneously. Cyanoacrylate is triggered by hydroxol ions in water, and as almost all objects have traces of water on its surfaces, this enables the cyanoacrylate adhesive work exceptionally quickly.
Is this not just SuperGlue?
Cyanoacrylate is not super glue. But super glue is cyanoacrylate. Super Glue is a specific type of cyanoacrylate that has become widely recognised thanks to intensive marketing by a US adhesive manufacturer. These super glues are short shelf life adhesives. The Shelf life is 12 months unopened, once open it will last around 4 weeks.
Not all Cyanoacrylates area equal
When purchasing a modern cyanoacrylate, it is important to remember that you are not limited to super glue. Thanks to modern chemistry, there are many different types to choose from. These can include cyanoacrylates that are:
- High or low viscosity glues
- Low odour (ideal for gluing in confined spaces)
- Low blooming adhesives
- Rubber bonders (provide a certain amount of flex upon bonding)
- Gap filling glues
- Wicking or penetrating grade adhesives
- Ultra-fast bonding adhesives (This can be the adhesive or created through the addition of an additional primer)
At Action Adhesives, our team of experts will work with your individual situation to ensure you find the correct adhesive to meet your needs. We understand that every business is different, we source adhesives to match you scenario.
Is Cyanoacrylate suitable for my industry?
Cyanoacrylate can be found in use in a wide range of industries including:
- Woodworking
- General Manufacturing
- Electronics
- Metals
- Rubbers
- Plastics
- Automotive applications
- Glass
- Ceramics
- Textiles
Why not to select Cyanoacrylate?
Cyanoacrylate is suitable for a wide range of industries. There are a few scenarios where it may not be the most suitable product. These include conditions where:
- The bonding substrate may not be suitable
- Environment contains no moisture
- If the adhesive contacts undesirable surfaces and forms a bond (e.g. skin)
- It has a short shelf-life
Speak with one of our experts before purchasing. This will ensure you are receiving the most suitable adhesive for your individual scenario.
Seven Reasons to choose Cyanoacrylate Adhesives from Action Adhesives:
- Quick Curing Speed
- User Friendly
- Solvent Free and Non-Flammable
- Excellent Bond Strength that often exceeds the substrate material
- Excellent versatility and performance attributes for production environments.
- Affordable, Economical and gives excellent results
- Excellent for Joining dissimilar material at consistent optimum strength