How does superglue work?
The short answer
Unlike water-based glues that bond through evaporation, superglue works because of a chemical reaction triggered by the tiny amounts of moisture in the air. Its cyanoacrylate molecules rapidly link together into a strong, plastic-like material that bonds surfaces almost instantly.
The long answer
Superglue? More like super-duper-glue. A one square-inch bond using superglue can hold more than a ton of weight. In fact, the Guinness World Record tops out at just nine drops of superglue holding more than five tons.
Loctite Super Glue holds the world record for heaviest vehicle lifted with glue. Just nine drops of superglue was able to lift more than 5 tons (~11,000 lbs) of weight.
This adhesive marvel is one of the strongest, fastest-acting substances around and how it works is sure to have you glued to your screen.
How does glue work?
First, as a comparison, let's go over how all-purpose, Elmer's-type glues bond. These white glues rely on solvent evaporation to form a bond. In simple terms, this glue contains both water (the solvent) and polyvinyl acetate (a binding material) and when the water evaporates, the polyvinyl acetate forms a flexible, film-like bond.
How does superglue work?
Superglue sticks with a different approach: a chemical reaction.
Unlike regular glue which relies on its water content evaporating, superglue relies on the trace water content in the air to trigger a process called polymerization. During this reaction, cyanoacrylate molecules (a synthetic resin) link together in a chain reaction to form a solid, plastic-like material bonding between the surfaces.
Liquid super glue turns into a solid material as its cyanoacrylate molecules form bonds triggered by exposure to water.
(If you're curious for a much deeper dive into the chemistry here, I'd highly recommend checking out this video by an actual Ph.D chemist.)
Since it only requires a small amount of water to trigger the chemical reaction, superglue bonds almost instantly.
The reaction also triggers some heat in the process, which is why superglue can feel hot if you happen to get some on your fingers. Speaking of which...
How do you get superglue off your skin?
Don't panic. You're not the first person to unintentionally stick your fingers together with superglue while DIYing (🙋♀️ me too, friend), so you have a few options.
Option #1: Warm, soapy water
This might seem counterintuitive after you've just learned that water triggers the bonding process of superglue. But once the glue has set into a hard, brittle material, it can't get any more sticky. Soaking your skin in warm, soapy water can break the glue's structure over time.
Option #2: Nail polish remover (acetone)
Superglue forms its molecules into long chains to create a plastic-like material. The acetone found in nail polish remover interacts with these chains and weakens their connections to break the glue up into smaller pieces, softening it up.
Option #3: Lemon juice
Similar to acetone, lemon juice is strong enough to weaken the bonds in the superglue over time. It's recommended to soak the glued skin for up to 10 minutes.
Option #4: A commercial superglue remover
If all else fails, head to your local hardware store to pick up a bottle of specially designed superglue remover.
🧴✨ Tips for using superglue
Tip #1: Check if superglue will work on your material.
Because of the heat produced by superglue's reaction with water, it can actually melt and damage materials like certain plastics and silk. So as long as you're using superglue on metal, wood, ceramics, cotton, paper, rubber, glass, or some plastics, you should be good to go.
Tip #2: Rough up the surface.
A less smooth surface gives the glue more surface area to bond to, so if possible, use some sandpaper or steel wool to create some roughness.
Tip #3: Clean and dry the surface.
Clean it to prevent any dust or oils from impacting the bond's strength. Also make sure the surface is totally dry. If it's wet, the superglue will prematurely bond before it's had a chance to fill in the cracks of the surfaces. A simple swab with an alcohol wipe can do the trick here.
Tip #4: Use gloves.
Why risk having your precious finger tips get stuck together? Put on a pair of disposable gloves before you open the glue bottle.
Tip #5: Only use a small amount of superglue.
More is less when it comes to superglue. A thicker layer of glue will actually decrease the strength of the adhesive and increase the amount of time it'll take to bond.
Tip #6: Hold the bond together for a few minutes.
After you've pressed the surfaces together with superglue, hold it (or clamp it) for a few minutes to give the bond plenty of time to stick.
Check out some other curious questions:
Sources
Amberger, B. (2019, May 26). Chemistry Ph.D. Explains how Super Glue Actually Works. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hY1jyGNzIo&ab_channel=GoobertownHobbies
Cedesa Ltd. (2021, November 11). What is Super Glue and How is it Made?. Cedesa. https://www.cedesa.co.uk/what-is-superglue/
Clifton, J. (2024, April 30). Can Acetone Remove Glue?. ReAgent Chemical Services. https://www.chemicals.co.uk/blog/can-acetone-remove-glue
Kingsley-Hughes, A. (2023, March 13). You’re using super glue all wrong. ZDNET. https://www.zdnet.com/home-and-office/youre-using-superglue-all-wrong/
Loctite. (n.d.). How to get super glue off your hands. Loctite. https://www.loctiteproducts.com/ideas/fix-stuff/glue-removal.html
Neer, K. (2001, August 6). What makes super glue so super?. HowStuffWorks. https://home.howstuffworks.com/question695.htm