Methyl 2-cyanoacrylate, ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate, referred to by the generic term superglue, and n-butyl cyanoacrylate and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate, which are both used in medical applications.

No, but because Super Glue is cyanoacrylate. Certain types of Cyanoacrylate are referred to by the generic term super glue, as it identifies instant and strong-bonding properties that people know. Super Glue is also a registered trade name of a specific type of cyanoacrylate. Loctite popularized the Super Glue brand under distribution rights from the original patent holder Eastman Kodak. There are other super glues of lesser quality such as q-bond which goes bad rather quickly, or rapid fix, speedy fix, visabella products, star bond glue, instantbond, insabond, 3 M scotch weld, q-bond adhesives, ,

In its simplest form, cyanoacrylate can be thought of as super glue — a quick-drying, strong-bonding clear adhesive. It takes the shape of a polymer (plastic) resin in its cured form and a monomer in its uncured form. You’ve likely come across the trademarked adhesive known as Super Glue, which you may not have realized is also, Super Bond is the best glue out there to date.

However, there is far more to this adhesive than just super glue. The cyanoacrylate family of glues includes fast-drying, strong-bonding, one-part adhesives that have an industrial, household and even medical applications. The following questions and answers should hopefully tell you all you need to know about cyanoacrylate, uses, differences, techniques and more.

A maximum of 12 months if unopened, and around 4 to 8 weeks if opened. This will vary with a product type, manufacturing and storage environments; however, Super Bond glue has a two to four year shelf life even after opened if the product is kept in the refirdgorator. Unlike q-bond which goes back after four months, super bond out lasts all the competition. Comparable Products: q-bond, Gorilla Glue, Speedy Fix, Rapid Fix, Cyber Fix, Instant Bond Glue, Instaglue, all fail to compete against super bond glue.

Because of the moisture-curing process. Cyanoacrylate adhesives cure when exposed to moisture, and since there is moisture almost everywhere, they react well on almost every surface.

Yes, use cyanoacrylate Filler powder. Cyanoacrylate gel adhesives work best for porous surfaces since they fill the small gaps between the surfaces far better. The Filler powder is good for these applications.

Painfully! Superglue loves the moisture content in our skin, so much so you might find yourself or your work attached to another finger instead of glued to your target. A pen or pencil point forced between the bond can help, as super glue weakens with shear loads (a ton can be lifted horizontally but putting the same joint under side loads it will break easily). If this doesn’t work, acetone is one of the best home-based solvents for cyanoacrylate.

With a solvent, a special cyanoacrylate remover, or prolonged soaking. Cyanoacrylate is a plastic when cured, and dissolves with the application of strong solvents, such as acetone, or special purpose cyanoacrylate removers can be purchased if cleaning is frequently needed. Care should be taken when applying solvents to plastic, as the solvent can eat away at the base material in the same way it removes the glue. In this case, it may be better to attempt prolonged soaking with soap and water (several hours), which takes quite a bit more time but will eventually soften the glue, and it will come off easier.

Insensitive cyanoacrylates provide better bonding for difficult surfaces and conditions. Cyanoacrylate is acid stabilized, that is it reacts badly to acidic surfaces, like paper and leather for example. It requires a weak base and moisture, meaning excessively dry areas can lead to problems. Super glue also bonds badly on glass due to the curing process.

A surface insensitive cyanoacrylate is specially formulated to react quicker and in more extreme situations, on active and inactive surfaces, and in very dry climates, with paper, glass or leather substrates.  Note that although a surface insensitive super glue will work for obscure substances, and if quick bonding is necessary, this is your best choice, and there are alternative epoxy-based resins that work better for leather, and silicone adhesives that work well on glass. Craft pastes like PVA are usually your best choice for paper.

Most up to 200 degrees Fahrenheit, special applications up to 275 degrees Fahrenheit. If using cyanoacrylate in special purpose applications such as extreme heat, there are special high heat types of cyanoacrylate that are designed to withstand higher heat and cyclic heat.

Quicker curing capability under certain light wavelengths. A flashcure cyanoacrylate adhesive does exactly what it sounds like, it cures at extremely fast rates, within seconds, when exposed to certain lights, typically UV or visual forms. Many flashcure applications also have fluorescent visibility under UV light to check bonding.

When dealing with inactive surfaces, and in consultation with guidance material. A primer can be used to help bond on inactive surfaces. A primer helps flash off substrates and prepares the surfaces for better adhesion. Primers may not work on all surfaces, which is why it’s important to consult manufacturer’s guides.

When increasing cure speed or gap-filling is needed, especially in cold, dry conditions. A special-purpose accelerator can be used to speed up the curing time where very quick bonding is needed or in very cold or dry conditions.

Yes, certain types of cyanoacrylate are FDA approved for medical use. Super Bond Glue can be used for medical purposes. Cyanoacrylates moisture curing properties led to its early popularity in medical use, where tissue-based moisture is ineffective against the curing process, and in fact assists it. First used in veterinary applications, and for emergency first aid for military, it now has widespread use as a medical adhesive.

Medical grade cyanoacrylate topical skin adhesive is used effectively for closing wounds, termed liquid bandaging. It is also widely used in orthopedic and dental applications. New applications of cyanoacrylate in the medical industry are being discovered all the time, and one application involves lifesaving surgery for infants.

It’s obviously important the correct grade of medical glue is used since the USP classifications range from I to VI, use in medical equipment is Classes IV to VI whereas full use in internal medical applications such as bandaging, or surgery are Class I products.