Super glue: the history of the invention, features and rules of application

Super glue, a common adhesive found in both homes and businesses, has a fascinating history that begins in the middle of the 20th century. Its creation happened quite by accident while working on a project to create clear plastic gun sights the military could use in World War II. Rather, the researchers discovered a substance that adhered to anything it came into contact with, which gave rise to this now-essential adhesive.

Cyanoacrylate, a high-strength, fast-bonding adhesive that solidifies practically instantly when exposed to moisture, is the main component of super glue. Super glue is extremely versatile and effective for a wide range of materials, including metal, plastic, wood, and ceramics, thanks to this special quality. Repair work, crafting, and even certain medical procedures have been revolutionized by its ability to quickly form a strong bond without the need for clamping.

Super glue has many advantages, but in order to avoid common pitfalls, it requires some know-how when using it. It is essential to prepare surfaces properly; they must be dry, clean, and free of any debris or oils. A stronger bond is ensured by applying the glue sparingly, as too much can result in weaker joints and longer curing times. Furthermore, care should be taken to avoid unintentionally bonding skin or other surfaces, as this can be difficult to remove once the glue has set.

Super glue has completely changed the way we handle repairs and assembly work by enabling everyone to create strong bonds and fast fixes. Whether you’re starting a creative DIY project, fixing a broken vase, or tightening a loose screw, knowing the background, characteristics, and correct usage of super glue will help you get the most out of this amazing adhesive.

History of Invention	Features and Application Rules
Super glue was accidentally discovered in 1942 by Dr. Harry Coover while looking for materials to make clear plastic gun sights during World War II.	Super glue, also known as cyanoacrylate adhesive, bonds quickly and strongly to most surfaces, including wood, metal, ceramic, and plastic. It"s essential to clean surfaces before applying for best results. Apply a small amount, as excess glue can cause weak bonds.

The history of the invention

The nearly centuries-old history of super glue began in 1942 when American chemist Harry Kuver succeeded in obtaining a material with distinct adhesive properties. However, it wasn’t until nine years later that cyanacrylate was remembered, as the US military aircraft industry required an adhesive that could withstand high temperatures. Super glue’s cyanoacrylate foundation was created by Harry Kouver and his colleague Fred Joyner through a series of experiments conducted during their ongoing work at Eastman Kodak. 1958 saw the product’s release under the EASTMAN 910 trademark.

The adhesive composition hasn’t become more well-known overnight. On an American TV show, the creator of Super glue showcased the special qualities of cyanacrylate. In front of the spectators, the cable was lowered onto the stage. Harry Kuver applied glue to a metal rod, pressed it against the cable, and waited a short while. The gadget supported the weight of the scientist and the top television show that were attached to him when he then seized hold of the finished design and hung in the air. The world became aware of the amazing potential of super glue.

Kodak sold National Starch the rights to produce cyanacrilat in 1980. Nowadays, a large number of domestic and international businesses are producing super adhesives by incorporating auxiliary ingredients into the mixture.

Contemporary products are highly sought after and possess excellent adhesive qualities.

Fascinating! The substance was not used much after being developed into super glue. A few decades ago, consumers started actively using super glue in business and daily life after realizing how amazing a chemical product’s adhesive qualities were.

The intriguing history of Super glue, a remarkable adhesive with quick bonding and strong holding qualities, begins with its accidental discovery during World War II. It was discovered years later that its adhesive potential could be used for purposes other than making clear plastic gun sights. Super glue’s ease of use and instantaneous bonding power have made it an indispensable tool in both industrial and household settings today. Understanding the features and adhering to the recommended application guidelines—such as applying the glue sparingly to prevent excessive application that could weaken the bond and only using it on clean, dry surfaces—are essential to getting the best results.

Peculiarities

Cyanacrylate, which makes up 97–99% of the composition of all substances with quick setting, is the foundation. It contains cyanacrilic acid and esters. The remaining chemical compound consists of thickeners to create a gel-like consistency, activators to moisten surfaces, stabilizers to preserve properties after drying, plasticizers to give mixtures the necessary viscosity, and other elements to enhance the product’s functionality.

One characteristic that sets super glue apart from other substances is that it contains no solvents, making it ideal for fixing metal items.

Key characteristics of a composition that dries quickly are:

• The mixture dries instantly in the air, in loosely covered packaging and even on the fingers.
• Fixation of glued materials occurs by applying a thin uniform layer and tight pressing of surfaces.
• Cyanacrylate adhesives easily withstand a load of 150-250 kg/cm2, which indicates a high strength of the composition.
• The substance freezes almost instantly, forming an elastic layer of translucent texture.

You can use concrete dust, plaster, or cling soda to fill in gaps and cracks before using super glue, as these materials work well with cyanoacrylate mixtures. More than a hundred super glue products, including sealants, gluing tapes, and compact blisters, are currently available on the market.

Speaking of which, Goods are supplied in a tiny container because only a few drops of the material are required for strong bonding. Additionally, the glue is not kept for very long due to the tight packaging.

The field of use

Customers all across the world were pleased with super bite’s benefits. The compositions have a broad range of action and can be used to glue both homogeneous and heterogeneous materials.

Differentiate between materials with a specific use and those that are universal, like medical super glue. Cyanoacrylate finds application in the manufacturing of optical parts, microcircuits, boards, radio engineering, window structures, and instrumentation.

Super glue works well for joining different kinds of materials.

Super glue glides, one of the most well-liked compositions of the 3g "moment,"

1. Wooden, glass, ceramic elements.
2. Metal, rubber, earthenware materials.
3. Gluing fragments of plastic and polymers.
4. Sealing of profile elements of window systems.
5. Assembly of electronic and electrical parts.
6. Structural modeling, applied art.
7. Ensuring the tightness of plumbing equipment.
8. Production of devices for dentistry, orthopedics.

Supercles have an ethyl allocial basis and are one component. We refer to this material as second glue. It firmly sets after a minute and connects different materials with reliability. The composition of the material happens during the day. Fillers that provide mixtures of heat and electrical conductive properties are included in two-component compounds. Adhesives are divided into three categories based on consistency: viscous (gel-like) materials to fill large spaces, medium (universal) compositions with a wide range of applications, and liquid (penetrating) materials for small gaps.

Super glue is a common household problem solver. to seal chips, seams, and fissures.

Something can be mixed with food soda to create a robust, quickly curing composite material that looks like acryloplastics.

Fiberglass reinforced epoxy compounds are successfully replaced with glue.

Advantages

The all-purpose second glue "Super Moment," which has a better composition formula, has become very popular among home shoppers. It is used to glue a range of materials because of its broad spectrum of action. It takes five seconds to acquire the fastening properties. The functioning characteristics of other well-known brands’ products are comparable.

Among the benefits of super adhesives are:

1. Universal use in industry, medicine, everyday life. The compositions are suitable for strong fixation of most materials.
2. Instant grasp. Primary solidification time is 5-60 seconds, complete polymerization occurs after 12-24 hours.
3. An extensive temperature range (-40+60 ° C) without loss of strength of the adhesive seam, frost resistance, water resistance.
4. Fixation of the materials heterogeneous in structure without the need to carry out perfect preparation of surfaces.
5. High strength – sometimes the glue “moment” second, “cosmofen” or a similar composition is stronger than glued materials.
6. Economical consumption and high degree of penetration. A few drops of cyanacrylate are enough for reliable fixation of products.
7. It is used for motionless and elastic structures, vertical, horizontal, porous surfaces.

The resulting sutures have good resistance against gap stress, deformations, and vibrations. Affordability is another benefit of cyanacrilates and second glue "Super moment."

The compositions create an elastic, transparent layer with a uniform structure on the glued bases. The products have a number of drawbacks, including the inability to use super glue for large gaps between fragments, a maximum operating temperature of +80 degrees, poor resistance to locking loads, and instability to solvents (dimethyl sulfoxide, acetone, isopropanol).

Take note! When cellulose-containing materials like paper, cardboard, and cotton are adhered to with glue, an exothermic reaction occurs and heat is released. You must select products with unique additives that partially inhibit the cyanacrilate properties in order to glue such products together. Additionally, make sure to test the glue’s reaction with the cellulosomic-containing material.

Useful tips

Low-porous solid surface connections are best made with superglines.

Products made of soft, hygroscopic, elastic cyanacrylate glue worsening. In order to adhere pieces of glue with a moderately porous structure, you must endure the first 0.5-2 minutes of setting time.

The composition dries quickly, so the glue is only put in small areas.

Use guidelines for "Contact," "Cosmofen," "Moment," "Strength," and other super adhesives:

1. Clean, dry and degrease (acetone, gasoline) a glued surface.
2. The upper end of the cap to pierce the protective metal membrane on a tube with glue.
3. Apply a small amount of cyanacrylate to the surface of one product and tightly press the second glued fragment to it. The gluing process begins from the center to the edges to eliminate the entry of air bubbles.
4. Withstand from a few seconds to a minute, wipe the glue and tighten the cap well.

The environment’s temperature and humidity have an impact on how long the drying takes. Super glue should be used safely by working in an area with good ventilation, wearing gloves and safety glasses, and avoiding contact with the skin or mucous membranes.

Speaking of which, Depending on the glue brand, products can be kept in sealed factory packaging for six to twelve months. The product might dry out if not the full tube is used. A printed tube’s shelf life can be increased by wiping the glue off its nose, tightly closing it, storing it in a jar with a lid beneath the thread, and keeping it in the refrigerator.

When glue gets on the fingers

Super Glor "Moment" glues instantly, but even with the most precise application of quickly drying glue products, there is a chance that cyanacrylate will find its way into the hands. This is the result of overextraction of the product, but it is not very dangerous. You must wash your hands with warm water and soap if you get on your fingers. Vegetable oil, dimexide, acetone, or soda solution can be used to clean the glued hands.

If your fingers are glued up, you can’t move them sharply to avoid damaging the skin. You must wait for the dissolving substance to soften the cyanacrylate before you carefully disconnect your fingers.

Woolen gloves should never be used when applying glue.

When it hits the mucous membrane

When doing glue jobs at home, some customers forget to wear safety glasses. Adhesive in the eyes is not excluded in this instance. This is a hazardous condition for the mucous membranes surrounding the eyes, and it may cause headaches, nausea, coughing, or vomiting as side effects.

How to react if adhesive enters the eye:

1. Stop the process of gluing products.
2. Rinse your eyes with clean water for 15 minutes.
3. Check your vision by contacting a doctor.
4. To use glasses in the future.

Inhaling super glue vapor is not very dangerous for your health. But working in a room with ventilation is preferable. When cyanoacrylate is present in large quantities in the air, it can release toxic substances that can make people sick or dizzy.

Super glue is an adhesive with an intriguing past and exceptional practicality that has become a household and industrial mainstay. It was first created in the 1940s when researchers were looking for materials to make clear plastic gun sights for the Second World War. This adhesive, chemically known as cyanoacrylate and accidentally discovered by Dr. Harry Coover, was later identified for its strong bonding properties and commercial potential.

Super glue’s versatility and quick bonding speed are what make it special. Numerous materials, such as ceramics, plastic, wood, and metal, can be bonded together with it. This quick-setting glue forms strong bonds almost instantly by reacting with the moisture on surfaces. It has become a well-liked option for DIY projects and repairs due to its effectiveness and ease of use.

Super glue application needs to be handled carefully for both safety and best results. After the surfaces that need to be bonded are clean and dry, lightly coat them with glue and firmly press the parts together. Refrain from using too much glue since it can cause weak bonds or take longer to set. Super glue can also fuse skin, so it’s crucial to handle it carefully and keep it out of the reach of small children.

Our appreciation of super glue is increased when we are aware of its history and how to use it properly. Super glue continues to be a monument to scientific ingenuity and usefulness, from its accidental discovery to its essential function in routine repairs. We are able to fully utilize its potential while steering clear of typical pitfalls by adhering to basic application guidelines.

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