INTRODUCTION
There are several manufacturers of adhesives in the world, but
most widely known to a homebody are:
Elmer's, LePage,
Mastercraft and
Loctite
Products for household and motor craft industry are available from building and
hardware supplies, and various auto and boat parts stores.
Elmer's Products, Inc. and Aron Alpha® are the first
manufacturers to donate samples, and expand my knowledge of adhesives, their
proper selection, application and uses.
Elmer's Products, Inc. + Toagosei Co., Ltd. bring
Aron Alpha®
Toagosei Co., Ltd. of Japan has been producing cyanoacrylate adhesives since
1960, commercially marketed under names of Aron
Alpha® in Japan,
Cyanolit® in Europe and Krazy Glue® in the America.
Elmer's Products Inc. of Ohio markets and distributes Krazy
Glue® to
the retail trade and Aron Alpha® to the
industrial trade in North
America.
We also have a listing for the newly formed USA company in Mesa, Arizona:
How to Select the Right Cyanoacrylate Adhesive - (Wide range of 30 types!)
Cyanoacrylates are single component instant adhesives that bond a wide variety
of surfaces with a strong durable bond.
- Materials to be bonded
The chemical name / or the trade name of the materials to be glued are required
for the manufacturers Technical Assistance team, if you do not find it
listed.
- Cleanliness/pre-treatment
- Porosity of the surfaces
- Chemical sensitivity to cyanoacrylates (i.e. plastics can fog up etc.)
- Mating of Bonded Surfaces
The gap between the two surfaces to be glued can determine the viscosity of cyanoacrylate.
Whether you apply the glue before or after the assembly. There is a wide range of viscosities available from very thin to thick gel formulas.
Some surfaces may have to be pre-treated by cleaning, sanding or priming to ensure a strong, permanent bond.
- Speed of Cure
The manufacturing process/assembly may require a very fast setting adhesive,while manual assembly may require time for proper positioning or re-positioning
of parts
- Aesthetic Requirements
Visible joints may require additional consideration .... such a s chlorosis (bloom) potential, stringiness of adhesive, product clarity and method of
application.
- Assembly Environment
Temperature, humidity, ventilation, assembly methods, equipment and material being bonded can influence the performance of the adhesive.
Less than ideal conditions should be factored into your adhesive selection.
- End-Use Environment
The final use and/or operating environment of adhered parts is critical in specifying the right cyanoacrylate. The key factors are:
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Chemical interaction/corrosion
Just visualize your precious collectors knife being thrown into an evil dishwasher :-)
- Bond Stress
If bonded assembly is to be subjected to stress in its final environment (and what working knife is not), the choice of proper adhesive becomes critical to strength and durability. (Wouldn't want handle scales to fall off)
- Tensile Load
- Compression load
- Shear Load
- Peel Load
- Cleave load
- Detailed Technical Information Data Sheets are available for each product.
Technical Team is there to help you if need be. The link to the Direct contact listing provides more
Achieving Optimum Bond Strength
- Proper Bonding Surfaces
Close fitting, non porous surfaces provide the best bond.
A clearance from .001 to .003 inches between surfaces to be bonded is ideal
A slightly rough surface provides the best bond.
For porous surfaces or wider gaps consider a higher viscosity glue.
- Plastic cracking or dissolving
Plastics such as PS, ABS, AS, acrylics, cellulose or Polycarbonate resins can
swell, crack or dissolve when exposed to cyanoacrylic liquids.
Avoid this by applying a very thin layer of the fastest setting formula, or use
an accelerator to speed curing.
- High temperatures
Temperatures above 176°F (80°C) will cause failure of most
cyanoacrylates. Aron Alpha® offers special high temperature resistant
adhesives (400X or 400T Series) that retain bond strength up to
248°F (120°C).
- Impact strength
Cyanoacrylates provide high tensile strength but relatively poor resistance to
peeling or impact loads.
proper design of the joints to be glued - tongue and groove or sleeve joints, or
rubber inserts - will improve the bond performance. Aron Alpha® 400X
and 400T Series provide significantly higher impact resistance.
- Chlorosis (Blooming)
Cyanoacrylates can produce a white powder resin when applied in very humid
conditions, or when the bonded materials are immediately placed in a closed
space.
The cyanoacrylate liquid will volatilize from bonded area, polymerize in the
adjacent air, and attach itself to the immediate area.
There are a number of ways to avoid chlorosis:
- Do not use excessive amounts of the adhesive
- Keep the environment dry and temperature at 68°F or higher
- Disperse the volatilized monomer with a fan or ventilator
- Use an accelerator to speed curing
- Use Aron Alpha® 800 Series, specially formulated to minimize chlorosis.
- If chlorosis occurs, remove the deposit with a dry cloth, or use solvent that will not dissolve the substrate.
How to Apply Cyanoacrylate Adhesives
- For best results and optimum adhesive performance, surfaces should be clean and free of contaminants.
Remove oil, grease, form release agents with a suitable solvent.
When using a cleaning solvent, first check for material compatibility, particularly in the case of plastics.
An easy method for removing sontaminants is by using a clean cloth and wiping the surface with acetone or alcohol.
Remove rust, paint and other residues with a sandpaper from the surfaces to be bonded.
- Wear protective eyewear and polyethylene gloves should be worn to protect against accidental bonding of fingers or spraying adhesive into eyes. The substrate should be dry and at or above 68°F (20°C). Keep area well ventilated to remove fumes and prevent chlorosis.
- When storing in refrigerator, allow the adhesive to gradually warm up to room temperature before use.
Use as little adhesive as possible on the smallest surface to rebonded.
CA PLUS recommends applying the cyanoacrylate in small quantities to one surface only.
The parts should then be mated together under slight pressure. This causes the adhesive to spread out into a thin film and assures optimum adhesive performance.
The pressure need only to be applied for several seconds.
The advanced performance series cures rapidly, allowing for bonded parts to be handled withinn 10 - 60 seconds for most applications.
Full cure is normally withinn 24 hours.
In cases where the Accelerator is used, fixturing will normally occur in less than 5 seconds, with full cure in 8-12 hours
When it is difficult to position two surfaces because of the fast set time,
mate surfaces and apply a drop of glue at the crack. Capillary action will
spread the adhesive.
Use gel formula for porous surfaces.
The setting time will vary with the materials and adhesive used.
The bond will set within a few seconds ..... up to a few minutes at
most.
Maximum strength is achieved in 24 hrs
Accessories
Many substrates present bonding problems that can be overcome with proper
surface cleaning, preparation and acceleration of polymerization or curing.
Aron Alpha® offers products to improve performance of the cyanoacrylates in
problem situations.
- Primers
- PP Primer: For PP (Polypropylene), Soft PVC
(Polyvinyl chloride), PE (Polyethylene), PPS (Polyphenylene
Sulphate), EPT Rubber (Ethylene Propyrene Terpolymer),
Polyurethane.
- PP Primer S: PPS primer with an accelerator to
reduce bonding time to seconds.
For PP (Polypropylene), Soft PVC (Polyvinyl chloride) extra
high speed cure, PE (Polyethylene), PPS (Polyphenylene
Sulphate), EPT Rubber (Ethylene Propyrene Terpolymer),
Polyurethane.
- EN Primer: Prepares engineering plastics and related substrates.
For PE (Polyethylene), POM (Polyexymethylene / Polyacetal), EPT Rubber (Ethylene Propyrene Terpolymer).
- Silicone rubber Primer: SI Prepares silicon rubbers and related substrates.
- Glass Primer: Prepares glass for adhesion to other substrates.
- Accelerators
Facilitates extremely fast cure of cyanoacrylates. Useful in
"building" adhesives to fill gaps, and curing of cyanoacrylates on
acidic and porous surfaces.
Accelerators can remove surface contaminants and prevent adhesive migration. It
can be applied before or after the application of the Aron Alpha® adhesive.
- Acetone based: For general use, use caution with plastics
- Alcohol based: For general use
- Heptane based: For general use, best suited for sensitive plastic surfaces.
- Debonder
A clean-up solvent for cyanoacrylates. Use to quickly and easily dissolve cured
cyanoacrylate adhesives between adhered parts, excess adhesive on surfaces, or
on bonded skin.
Care and handling of cyanoacrylates
- Moisture, accelerator storage:
Avoid moist or humid conditions. Replace cap tightly. Store in airtight
conditions with a desiccant for the best results.
NEVER store cyanoacrylate adhesives with the accelerator.
- UV light, high temperature, refrigeration, shelf life:
Ultraviolet rays (sunshine) will reduce the shelf life of
cyanoacrylates.
High temperature / high moisture can deteriorate the original bonding strength of the
adhesive.
Store in a dark cool place. Shelf life is about one year when stored at 40°F.
Refrigeration at 40-50°F (5-10°C) is recommended for extended
storage.
Shelf life at 72°F is a minimum of 6 month.
Avoid contaminating open containers
- First Aid, MSDS:
If cyanoacrylate adhesive comes in contact with your eye, immediately wash
thoroughly with water and seek medical attention.
NEVER use solvents or rub an eye.
In its liquid state the adhesive may have a slightly irritating odor, so
provide adequate ventilation.
Contact the Technical Assistance Team at
1-800-338-5192 for detailed technical
information and MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets).
- Exothermic reaction:
Cyanoacrylate will produce exothermic reaction (heat) when it is polymerized
(resinified).
The heat gets particularly high when large amounts of cyanoacrylate
permeates a porous ,aterial, such a woven cloth or urethane rubber, and
quickly solidifies.
If an accelerator such a s caustic soda or amine is contained in such
materials, the exothermic reaction will take place so strongly it can cause
burns.
Created and maintained by Tony Hnilica
