Cyanoacrylate Adhesives

Cyanoacrylate Adhesives

Cyanoacrylates, commonly known as “super glues” or “instant glues,” are fast-acting, single-component adhesives that bond a wide range of materials—from metals and plastics to wood and even skin. They cure rapidly in the presence of moisture or weakly alkaline surfaces, forming strong, hard polymers within seconds. Their instant bonding makes them a go-to choice across industrial, medical, and household applications.

Cyanoacrylates cure through a chemical reaction triggered by moisture on the substrate’s surface. Surfaces like glass, plastic, and rubber initiate this reaction quickly due to their surface chemistry. Cure times vary by viscosity, humidity, and surface properties—ranging from just a few seconds to a few minutes. Higher humidity accelerates bonding, while thicker viscosities cure slower due to lower flow and added inhibitors.

Despite their speed and strength, cyanoacrylate bonds have limitations. They are thermoplastics, which means they have lower heat resistance compared to thermoset adhesives like epoxies. Prolonged exposure to water or high humidity can weaken bonds, especially on alkaline surfaces like glass. Nonetheless, cyanoacrylates maintain excellent adhesion on many plastics due to partial surface dissolution during cure.

CEC Corp offers two main categories of cyanoacrylate adhesives: general-purpose and industrial: 

The general-purpose C-BOND line is available in six viscosities—Extra Thin, Thin, Medium Thin, Medium, Thick, and Extra Thick—as well as a Black version. Each viscosity is tailored for specific applications: C-BOND Extra Thin penetrates porous or rotted materials; Thin and Medium Thin are ideal for clean surfaces and tight-fitting parts; Medium offers a balance between flow and control; Thick and Extra Thick are perfect for gap filling and bonding porous surfaces like MDF or softwoods. C-BOND Black provides a strong, clean finish, especially useful for woodworking repairs, knot filling, or aesthetic applications. Many of these glues perform even better when paired with C-SET Accelerator for faster curing.

Our industrial line is tailored to specific applications—metal, plastic and rubber, wood, and black wood adhesive—without limiting their broader usability. For example, Instant Glue Metal excels on metals but also performs well on plastics or rubber. Instant Glue Wood is optimized for hardwood and acidic surfaces like leather. Instant Glue Wood Black is ideal for filling and reinforcing knots, leaving a clean finish after sanding.

To further enhance performance, especially with thicker viscosities or in challenging environments, we offer C-SET—a solvent-based cyanoacrylate accelerator, also known as an activator. Available as an aerosol spray or mist spray, C-SET is designed to dramatically speed up curing time by triggering instant polymerization when applied before or after glue application. It’s particularly effective for bonding uneven surfaces, working in low-humidity or cold conditions, and ensuring fast, reliable adhesion when using high-viscosity cyanoacrylate glues.

At CEC Corp, we aim to keep innovating fast-curing adhesive technologies to meet the growing and diverse needs of industries—from woodworking to electronics, and beyond.