How does Super Glue Work?

Super glue is a generic name generally applied to glue made from cyanoacrylates, acrylic resin chemicals discovered in the early 1940s. But it wasn't until the late 1950s that these sticky, messy, tough-to-work-with chemicals were sold as "super glue". Krazy Glue (actually Borden Elmer's New Formula Instant Krazy Glue!), QuickTite and Super Glue are some commercial products sold nowadays made from cyanoacrylate. Super glues dry quickly (pretty strong within a few seconds, with full curing taking an hour or so) and form very strong bonds. The bonding power of super glue occurs when it comes into contact with water or water vapor. So while the glue normally comes as a liquid in a tube, it quickly hardens to a solid when it polymerizes. Once hardened, the glue is pretty much waterproof and difficult to remove. As noted below, care should be taken when working with super glue.

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Most people use super glue when working on things like craft projects or when trying to fix something that breaks. But there are a variety of super strong glues on the market that best lend themselves to certain applications.

Best Super Glues and Super Strong Adhesives - Epoxy

You can pick up small tubes of Krazy Glue or Super Glue or similar products at the market, drug store, or home supply store for just a few bucks. These glues work best for repairing chipped or broken items, but there are many specialty glues for woodworking, filling gaps between objects, etc. -- super glue is not always the best glue for other tasks. Polyurethane glues are specialty glues, sold under brand names like Gorilla Glue. Excel One is another PU glue that is popular. Even good old Elmer's makes a polyurethane glue called Borden Elmer's ProBond Polyurethane Glue. A small 2 oz. bottle of these glues will set you back about $5. These glues also react with water to begin curing, so you normally put a little water on the surfaces to be bonded. Polyurethane glues expand as they dry and form waterproof bonds. Normally you have to clamp together the items being glued to hold them in place while the glue hardens, since it does not act as quickly as the super glues do. These glues are often used in woodworking, furniture repair, boat repair, stoneworking, ceramics and tiles, etc. Since they don't set instantly like super glues, you actually have a little time to work and arrange pieces exactly where you want them while the glue is till soft -- this is a big plus when doing woodworking and such. One material must be porous for a bond to occur. And since these glues were meant for working with wood, they can be sanded and painted once dried. We've used Gorilla Glue for a lot of different applications - the trick is knowing how much to use so it doesn't end up spilling out over the edges as it expands and dries. If you have never used one of these PU glues before, test it out first on some scrap wood and let it sit overnight so you get an idea of how it will dry on your real project.

Working with Super Glue - Safety Tips - How to remove Super Glue?

Since super glue bonds so strongly and quickly, it can sometimes be tough to work with. We've all heard stories about people glueing their fingers together or getting their fingers stuck on some object they were trying to glue. And of course getting super glue on your counters or kitchen table will get you into trouble as well. So here are some tips and secrets about working with super glue. First, cover your work area with aluminum foil -- not newspaper, not paper towels, not plastic. Super glue can seep right through those materials and stick them to the surface underneath (ie, counter or table). Any glue spilled on the foil will simply harden in place and not soak through. Second, the fumes from these adhesives can bother people, so work in a ventilated area -- outside is fine, but open some doors or windows if you are inside. Third, when it comes to "unsticking" things and removing super glue, you should use the chemical acetone, commonly found in nail polish removers (read the label, some polish removers do not have acetone). Acetone breaks the chemical bonds created by the glue, allowing you to unstick your fingers for example. Just put a little on a Qtip and rub it around the glued area. You should NOT try to rip the skin apart quickly -- instead, use back and forth motion to loosen up the glue and pull gently apart, otherwise you risk ripping off some skin. Warm soapy water can also remove small amounts of super glue stuck on skin - be patient though, it will take several washings and soakings to work. Obviously, be careful around eyes, mouth, etc. The makers of the glue even claim that contact with eyelids and eyeballs will remedy themselves within hours or days, but I'd go see a doctor if I got super glue on my eyes! Larger objects (2 pieces of wood stuck together, for example) that are stuck together can be placed in a freezer for a few hours and can often be pried apart when the glue is frozen and fragile.

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