DS-FEB23-PG18+19_Layout 1 16/02/2023 10:19 Page 1
FEATURE
FASTENINGS & ADHESIVES KNOW YOUR GLUES!
CYANOACRYLATE MYTHS... There are a number of myths
surrounding cyanoacrylate adhesives, or superglues and instant adhesives as they are otherwise know as. Paul
Whitehead, strategic accounts manager at Intertronics, examines the myths by sticking to the truth!
superglues. So, to start with, let’s take a look at that they are made from. Cyanoacrylates are composed of acrylic monomers stabilised by a weak acid. Cure is initiated when the acidic stabiliser is neutralised by a weak base, typically water, resulting in polymerisation into a long chain polymer. CAs can be based on various monomers but are most commonly formed from ethyl cyanoacrylate (ECA) or methoxyethyl cyanoacrylate (MECA) monomers. But what are the myths surrounding them?
F
1. ALL CAS ARE THE SAME Consumer CA’s a readily available in many shops, but these are not indicative of the capabilities of all CA materials. Newer entries to the market aimed at industrial and technical markets have been formulated to overcome some of the historic challenges and broaden the applications in which CAs are used. They are produced in a variety of
formulations, each exhibiting distinctive 18 DESIGN SOLUTIONS FEBRUARY 2023
rom all being the same to them having an unpleasant odour, there are many myths surrounding the use of
attributes of viscosity, thixotropy, cure time, bond strength, and more. There are materials available for everything from electronics manufacturing, to medical-grade skin bonding materials for wound closure, as well as solutions for hobbyist woodworkers.
2. THEY ARE BRITTLE While CAs are generically brittle, some – like the Born2Bond Ultra range – are less brittle than conventional products, with rubber toughened formulations offering better impact resistance. The adhere ADH9480 Cyanoacrylate Adhesive,
for example, offers improved shock resistance and peel strength and has a longer setting time than other grades, while being specially formulated to achieve the strongest possible bond between well-mated, non-porous surfaces. ADH9105, meanwhile, offers higher impact, humidity, and temperature resistance than similar materials, resulting in a more flexible bond. Recently, CAs that are inherently flexible have
been developed, such as Born2Bond Flex which offers >200% elongation, absorbs impact and vibration and copes with bonding substrates with different thermal expansion coefficients.
3. THEY HAVE AN 80˚C MAXIMUM OPERATING TEMPERATURE
While 80˚C is the maximum recommended operating temperature for many, there are several products available that offer improved temperature resistance. Born2Bond Structural, for example, can withstand temperatures up to 120˚C, while ADH9480 can withstand up to 125˚C.
4. THEY ALWAYS CAUSE BLOOMING A side effect of CA’s volatility, blooming is the name given to the chalky white residue that appears on the surface of the part, which can be aesthetically undesirable. Because CAs based on MECA monomers are less volatile than ECA products, they are less susceptible to blooming. Manufacturers looking for a low bloom material could consider ADH9408, ADH9640 or ADH9403. Recent advances have seen the introduction
of low blooming MECA materials with fewer compromises, for example Born2Bond Light Lock, which has an additional light curing mechanism, or Born2Bond Ultra, which combines the fast curing associated with
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64
