Instant adhesives, otherwise known as cyanoacrylates or “super glues” are the most commonly used adhesive in the industry. Instant adhesives are considered to be general purpose as they suit a wide range of diverse applications and adhere to a host of different substrates. This adhesive type cures when exposed to the moisture in the air, and provide a durable, high strength bond.

In this post, we’ve highlighted 8 reasons why you should make instant adhesives your chosen bonding method.

1. Versatile Bonding 

Instant adhesives provide excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrates, from metal and wood to porcelain and ceramics. This means that instant adhesives can be used not just for industry use, but also to repair everyday items such as those found around the home. With huge advancements in the market, newer variations of instant glues have been produced to work with traditionally difficult to bond plastics such as polypropylene.

 

We Recommend: Henkel Loctite 401 Instant Adhesive

2. Economical Choice

The bonding of smaller or more obscure items can be made easy with the use of instant adhesives. Only a very small amount of glue is required to achieve a high level of polymerisation and in-turn, an extremely high strength bond. This makes cyanoacrylate an economical and cost-effective adhesive choice as the best bonds are produced using a minimal amount of adhesive.

We Recommend: Henkel Loctite 414 Instant Adhesive

3. Rapid Cure Times

Cure times vary between different compositions of instant adhesives, typically ranging from just a few seconds up to few minutes. This super-fast cure makes them highly effective in demanding applications. As very little adhesive is required to join the substrates, the adhesive achieves handling strength in just seconds. Instant adhesives are available in a variety of different viscosities and cure speeds meaning they suit a vast array of applications.

We recommend: Henkel Loctite 4062 Low Viscosity, Fast Cure Adhesive

4. Safe for Medical Use

Instant adhesives adhere well to other substrates too, most uniquely human skin. The medical industry uses this versatility to their advantage and have implemented the medical-grade glue as a quick and effective way of temporarily sealing wounds. Furthermore, instant glues are frequently used in the production of disposable medical devices where quick production times and reduced manufacturing costs are critical.

We recommend: Henkel Loctite 4013 Medical Instant Adhesive

 

5. Easy to Implement

There is no need for mixing or measuring instant adhesives as they are supplied as a one part, ready to use material. This makes them ideal for high speed production processes as they require no clamps or additional equipment prior to use, saving both space and money.

 We recommend: Permabond 102

6. Aesthetically Pleasing

As instant adhesives require a very minimal amount to be deposited onto the substrate for a high strength bond to form, there is little risk of mess or overspill if used correctly. The adhesive cures clear which leaves minimal to no trace between substrates. This makes cyanoacrylates particularly well suited for more intricate applications.

We recommend: Henkel Loctite 416 Adhesive

7. Suitable for Porous Surfaces

Whilst low viscosity instant adhesives have a runny, liquid consistency, many are manufactured with a very high, gel-like viscosity which can be used for gap filling. Thanks to their thicker formulation, cyanoacrylate gels prevent adhesive flow even on vertical surfaces and can be used to bond porous substrates such as leather or paper.

We recommend: Henkel Loctite 3090 Instant Adhesive Gel 

 

 

8. Flexible Bonds

Flexible instant adhesives are available to be used in the production of difficult to bond materials such as rubbers and plastics which often compress the finished joint. Flexible instant adhesives produce a flexible bond line as they are formulated with rubber additives, allowing movement in the joint and between the substrates without any damage.

We recommend: Henkel Loctite 4850 Flexible Instant Adhesive

Shop our full range of Instant Adhesives

 

 

Additional links:

Want to learn more about the history and chemical composition of instant adhesives? Check out our “In-Depth Guide to Cyanoacrylate Adhesives” post.

At Ellsworth Adhesives, we supply a wide range of instant adhesives from leading brands Henkel Loctite and Permabond. View our entire range of cyanoacrylate adhesives here.

Unsure if instant adhesives are right for you? Our Glue Doctor is available to answer any technical questions you may have regarding instant adhesives. Simply fill out our enquiry form.