Cyanoacrylates are a family of strong fast-acting adhesives with industrial, medical, and household uses.

Cyanoacrylate glue is the industrial name for what is commonly known as “Crazy Glue” or “Super Glue”. In fact, the term cyanoacrylate glue generally describes quick-bonding super glues. They can be used to combine anything from metal to plastic and even human skin.

The bonding activity of the cyanoacrylates occurs when the esters react with water to form polymers that bond to materials with which they come into contact. The polymerization reaction occurs very quickly, resulting in strong bonds that form almost instantaneously. The bonding action of cyanoacrylates depends on the presence of either alkaline (basic) sites or absorbed water on the surface of the substrate. Glass has an alkaline surface and bonds very rapidly. Many rubbers and plastics contain additives that can migrate to the surface and initiate polymerization.

Cyanoacrylate adhesives can be defined as single component, chemically active liquids that react very rapidly with moisture or other weakly alkaline materials to form clear, hard solids. Their important characteristics of instant glues are:

1. Very fast curing

2. Applied as liquids

3. Cured by a chemical reaction

4. Activated by alkaline materials

5. Form hard polymer materials after curing.

The term cyanoacrylate comes from the chemical structure of these materials

A myriad of commercial uses exist for cyanoacrylate adhesives. Major market industries include the automotive, beauty aid, consumer products, electrical, and electronics, machinery, medical devices, military, and transportation industries.

There are two other uses for cyanoacrylates: as medical adhesives and to develop fingerprints. Cyanoacrylate are used in many countries as medical adhesives to close surgical and other wounds. Cyanoacrylates are also used by law enforcement agencies to develop fingerprints.

Cure rate, specifically, fast bonding is one of the main reasons cyanoacrylates are popular. Cure rates vary with the adhesive, substrate, surface treatment, and relative humidity. Fixturing time varies from 2 seconds to several minutes, while full cure takes a few minutes to 1 day. Moisture has a catalytic effect on the polymerization, The higher the relative humidity the faster the cure.

The setting times of most commercial cyanoacrylates increase with increasing viscosity. This is due, in part, to slower spreading and wet-out on the surface, but also to higher amounts of inhibitors added by manufacturers to compensate for impurities in the thickener that can initiate polymerization. It also reflects the effects of larger gaps, which are usually present when a higher viscosity type is chosen.

Most polymerized cyanoacrylates are thermoplastics that have poor heat resistance compared to thermoset adhesives such as epoxies. Cyanoacrylate bonds usually undergo a loss in strength when immersed in water or exposed to high relative humidity (>90 degrees). This occurs because moisture can migrate into the interface and form a weak boundary layer. Humidity resistance is excellent with plastics that have some solubility when in contact with adhesive.

A small amount of plastic may dissolve during the cure and eliminate the interface. With respect to long-term aging, joints bonded with cyanoacrylates may undergo a gradual loss of strength after several years. In many cases the changes are not large enough to cause bond failure. Bonds on glass deteriorates very rapidly probably because glass has an alkaline surface that can catalyze the hydrolysis of the polycyanoacrylate.

Polymerized cyanoacrylate can be removed with certain polar solvents.

CECCORP has two general categories for Cyanoacrylate glues. First one is based on industrial applications and the second is general purpose cyanoacrylate. This categorization does not mean one type is stronger than the other just because it’s called industrial.

The industrial line is manufactured based on a specific niche application. Indicating a specific application for each of our products doesn’t mean that that product is not usable in other applications. As an example, our instant glue metal works very well on rubber or plastics as well. The word “metal” here is explaining that the formulation of this product works better than other cyanoacrylates on metal surfaces.

In our industrial application instant glues we have 4 categories. These categories are: Metal, Wood, Plastic, Rubber, and Wood (Black).

Some surfaces such as wood and leather, show acidity which causes cyanoacrylate to not bond properly to them. Instant glue Wood will solve this issue due to additives that are present. It works very well to bond hard wood.

Instant glue wood black is a very good choice to fill knots in wood. This ca glue will reinforce the wood from that point and will look very appealing after finishing.

The general purpose cyanoacrylate line of CECCORP is available in 4 different viscosities. Soon they will also be offered in black, white, and impact resistant versions as well.

Extra thin C-BOND can be used to consolidate porous, or rotted wood or other substrates.

Instant Glue Plastic or C-BOND Thin or Extra-Thin is a good option for PVC foam board that has applications in cabinet making. C-BOND Thick and C-SET accelerator also work in this application.

C-BOND Thick can be used to fill large gaps and adhesion in porous wood. If low viscosity instant glue is used, the wood will absorb the glue and not fill it.

C-BOND Thick, along with C-Set accelerator, is a great choice for quick bonding of MDF and porous woods in wood working industries such as cabinet making.

CECCORP has the capability to custom make different cyanoacrylate glues. For example heat-resistant cyanoacrylates, water resistant cyanoacrylate (dishwasher proof), two component putty for anchoring or hole filling, low-blooming (no odour), and more.

CECCORP is developing an accelerator for cyanoacrylates for increasing higher cure times when needed. CECCORP can also provide different primers for surfaces that are hard to bond with cyanoacrylate (Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Poly Acetal, PTFE).

CECCORP is developing new hybrid adhesive systems that use two components: cyanoacrylate and epoxy. These new hybrid adhesives have the advantages of both systems while covering each adhesive’s disadvantage.