Cyanoacrylate FAQs

Cyanoacrylates – also known as instant adhesives, CA glue, superglue, and Krazy Glue – are high strength, quick bonding glues that are very widely applicable across industries, from automotive components and medical devices to guitar fabrication. On this page, the Aron Alpha team has covered some of the most common questions we’ve received regarding cyanoacrylates. 

What Materials Are and Are Not Compatible with Cyanoacrylate Adhesives?

Cyanoacrylate glues bond readily with a wide variety of materials, including metal, fiber composite, plastic, vinyl, silicone, and rubber. Some plastics such as PTFE, polypropylene, and polyethylene are more difficult to bond using cyanoacrylates; however, Aron Alpha’s products can be specially engineered to meet the particular needs of your application. 

When deciding whether to use Krazy Glue or other cyanoacrylate adhesives for your project, it is important to consider factors that could compromise your superglue’s bonding ability, including lack of moisture, substrate acidity, and material formulations that make it difficult for cyanoacrylates to bond, such as polyolefin, acetal, and fluoropolymers.

For low surface energy plastics such as polypropylene, polyethylene or any polyolefin plastic, a surface treatment primer will most likely be required to achieve high bond strength with cyanoacrylate adhesives. See section on Primers.

What Are Common Applications for Cyanoacrylate Adhesives?

Aron Alpha adhesive products are relied upon by engineers in a variety of industries for dependable assembly and process bonding. Applications that benefit from the implementation of cyanoacrylate adhesives include: 

  • Automotive components and subassemblies
  • Aerospace parts and assemblies
  • Musical instruments
  • Commercial and residential appliance components
  • Furniture, home electronics, and other consumer goods
  • Disposable medical equipment and devices

Industries such as automotive, electronics, and general assembly use cyanoacrylate adhesives to ensure a quick, efficient, and dependable bond at a low overall cost. Krazy Glue and other cyanoacrylate adhesives provide durable bonds in situations where traditional fasteners are complicated to install or take up too much space. 

What is the Best Way to Store Cyanoacrylate Adhesives?

To ensure optimal superglue shelf life, we recommend storing your unopened bottles of instant adhesives in a cool, dry location, with sustained temperatures between 35°F and 45°F. Be sure that your adhesive container is not exposed to the elements, as wide temperature fluctuations and exposure to moisture and sunlight can damage the outer container and the adhesive within. 

Before opening your cyanoacrylate adhesive, allow it to warm to room temperature. If you do not use it all at once, store it at room temperature and keep in mind that the product’s shelf life is reduced once opened. Avoid refrigerating your adhesive after opening as this can cause moisture to collect inside the package, which reduces the quality and shelf life of your Aron Alpha product.

How Should I Use Accelerators and Primers with Cyanoacrylate Adhesives?

Solvent-based adhesive accelerators and primers are used to enhance the curing speed of cyanoacrylates, ultimately making them even more practical. Also known as adhesive activators, accelerators can be added to the adhesive prior to or after application, depending on the design configuration and bonding needs of the material. Although they can be particularly useful for facilitating speedy curing in cold, dry conditions, it is important for us to disclose that accelerators can reduce the bond strength of cyanoacrylate adhesives, which is particularly risky for porous materials as an accelerant can cause the glue to cure before it is sufficiently absorbed.

Here is a blog we put together that talks more in-depth about accelerators and primers.

How Can I Remove Cyanoacrylate Adhesives?

The great strength of cyanoacrylate adhesives is also one of their most notable challenges. The strong bonding properties of Krazy Glue make it equally likely to bond to unwanted materials, such as your skin and clothing. Fortunately, if you know how to remove cyanoacrylate adhesives using certain solvents, you can prevent undesirable bonds and remove any residual adhesive on your finished surfaces. 

Certain solvents can be used to remove cyanoacrylate adhesives from skin, fabric, glass, metal, plastic, vinyl, and more. The type of solvent you need depends largely on the material you are trying to remove the adhesive from. Certain areas of the skin may be sensitive to acetone; however, it is an ideal solvent for use on fabric, metal, glass, plastic, and non-sensitive skin. Other remedies, such as peanut butter or vegetable oil, are ideal for use on sensitive skin, fragile plastics, and vinyl. In some cases, you can opt to use physical force to remove superglue with a hammer, paint scraper, or razor blade. 

Durometer Hardness

Durometer hardness is a property presented on technical data sheets that shows how hard the resin is in the cured state.

A durometer gauge is the actual measuring device consisting of a small drill or blunt indentor point under pressure. Different measurement scales are used for different materials depending on how soft or hard the material.

The following chart compares three (3) different graduated measurement scales and relates hardness values to some common objects.

Shore A Shore D Rockwell M Reference Object
30 Art Gum Eraser
40 Pink Pearl Eraser
50 15 Rubber Stamp
60 Pencil Eraser
70 30 Rubber Heel
80 Rubber Sole
90 45 Typewriter Roller
100 55 Pipe Stem
74 0 Textbook Cover
78 32 Douglas Fir Plywood
82 63
86 95 Hardwood Desktop
90 125 Glass or Formica

The higher the number within each scale, the harder the material. Shore readings are typically used for plastics. Shore A is for softer materials; Shore D is for harder materials. Rockwell readings are typically used for metals.

(Click to enlarge)
Durometer Hardness

Mathematical Conversions

The following are some common conversions that might be helpful when utilizing Toagosei products:

  • 1 milliliter (ml) = 1 cubic centimeter (cc)
  • 1,000 ml = 1 liter
  • 29.5 ml = 1 fl. oz.
  • 3.78 liters = 1 gallon
  • 473 ml = 1 pint
  • 454 grams = 1 lb.
  • 500 grams = 1.1 lb.
  • 947 ml = 1 quart
  • 1 kilogram = 2.2 lbs.
  • Weight to Volume: grams ÷ specific gravity = cc (ml)
  • Volume to Weight: cc (ml) x specific gravity = grams
  • Density = specific gravity x 0.99823
  • Centipoises = centistokes x density (at a given temp.)
  • Temperature: Degrees F – 32 x 0.556 = degrees C
  • Temperature: Degrees C x 1.8 + 32 = degrees F
  • Square Inches to Square Feet: ÷ by 144
  • Square Feet to Square Inches: x by 144
  • In./lbs. ÷ 12 = ft./lbs.
  • Ft./lbs. x 12 = in./lbs.
  • 16 in. oz. = 1 in. lb.
  • 192 in. oz. = 1 ft. lb.

Area Coverage

Flat Parts:
Length x Width x Bondline Thickness x 16.4 = cc/ml requirement per part

Non-threaded Cylindrical Parts:
Diameter x Engagement Length x Bondline Thickness (on radius / per side) x 3.14 x 16.4 = cc/ml requirement per part

For no induced gap, make the bondline thickness figure 0.001″; 16.4 is a constant for converting cubic inches to cubic centimeters.

Shelf Life

What is the Toagosei shelf life policy for Aron Alpha branded products?

UNOPENED cyanoacrylate products must be stored under refrigerated conditions at 2°C (36°F) to 8°C (46°F). Storage below 2°C (36°F) or greater than 8°C (46°F) can adversely affect product properties.

Unopened cyanoacrylate products should be brought to ambient temperature before the package is opened. Once opened, it should be left at ambient temperature. Products requiring storage at conditions other than those specified here are labeled accordingly.

Material removed from containers may be contaminated during use. Do not return product to original containers. Toagosei cannot assume responsibility for product that has been contaminated or stored under conditions other than as recommended.

Contact Customer Service 614-718-3855 or 1-800-338-5192 if you need additional information.

Viscosity

Viscosity is a product property associated with all Aron Alpha adhesives and Arontite sealants. Viscosity is defined as a measure of the resistance of a fluid to flow (usually through a specific orifice). A measure of this fluid “thickness” is expressed in centipoise values. The higher the number, the thicker the product. Thicker products are less flowable and, in most cases, will fill a larger gap if necessary.

The following chart relates viscosity to some products we are all familiar with:

Common Item Approximate Viscosity in Centipoise (cps) Cyanoacrylates
Water 1 to 5 201, 221
Kerosene 10 221F
Antifreeze 15
Corn Oil 50 to 100 241F, 202
Maple Syrup 150 to 200
Castor Oil 250 to 500 232, 252F
Motor Oil SAE 60 1,000 to 2,000 203, 203TX
Honey 2,000 to 3,000
Molasses 5,000 to 10,000 253TX
Chocolate Syrup 10,000 to 25,000
Ketchup 50,000 to 70,000
Peanut Butter 150,000 to 250,000 Gel 10
Shortening 1,000,000 to 2,000,000
Caulking Compound 5,000,000 to 10,000,000
Putty 100,000,000 +


Cyanoacrylates at Aron Alpha

Toagosei America Inc. has been manufacturing the Aron Alpha brand of cyanoacrylate instant adhesives for over 50 years. To learn more about our company, click here. 

For more information about the benefits and uses of Aron Alpha’s cyanoacrylate adhesive products, view our blog, “How Cyanoacrylate Adhesives Work and Their Industrial Applications”.

Have a question about cyanoacrylates that we didn’t answer here? Feel free to reach out to our team today and we’ll provide more information.

 

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