What is cyanoacrylate accelerator for?

[James Wilkinson Sword]

In my experience, superglue sets instantly, usually before you've got the workpieces together straight, why on earth would you need to accelerate it?

[Andrew Gabriel]

There are two types. One sets on exposure to air (moisture actually), and the other requires an activator to set.

[The Natural Philosopher]

They all react to moisture. Accelerant is used when they dont react very fast.

I've had CA smoke when applied to the correct surfaces. Ore refuse to set for ages when applied to others.

Apparently dripping it onto cotton wool starts a fire.

[pamela]

There's also the rubbishy superglue I have had from the pound shop which doesn't set even if left for hours.

(Not to be confused with the watery variant they sell which squirts everywhere when opened and sets immediately.)

[James Wilkinson Sword]

I thought cyanoacrylate was a chemical which would be the same in every bottle? Is it watered down with something else?

[Mr Pounder Esquire]

I bought a pack of three little bottles from the pound shop a couple of years ago, it has been excellent. The stuff in the tubes is horrible.

[James Wilkinson Sword]

Yes I've had smoke from plastics.

Yes:

I've also seen cotton wool lit with a match and burning violently after being soaked in liquid oxygen (ok a very long match):

I'd love to see cyanoacrylate and oxygen at the same time :-)

Looks like every other combination has already been tried, here's lithium and liquid oxygen:

[James Wilkinson Sword]

I can't find the one that requires an activator (the activator says it's for normal superglue). One which waits for the activator would be useful - do you have a link?

[pamela]

You can get slow setting superglue.

[Andrew Gabriel]

First place I saw it used was in fitting double glazing. CA could be painted on to great long lengths of plastic trim (that took noticable time to paint it all on), and the activator sprayed on the matching surface. It then sets when you push the two together, and ISTR excess activator could be wiped off where it was oversprayed without damaging the PVC surface.

Here's the first one on a google search:

I don't know what happens if you don't use the activator. Maybe it takes much longer to set, or maybe it doesn't set.

[James Wilkinson Sword]

I thought the whole idea of superglue was it's speed. Otherwise you use contact adhesive or araldite.

[James Wilkinson Sword]

That sounds extremely useful, I'll have to buy some. Sticking when you want it to, not before you've positioned it, or after 10 minutes of holding it together while trying to ignore an itch.

[pamela]

I don't use it but here's one manufacturer's leaflet.

[Brian Gaff]

Yes there used to be a great explanation of this available from Loctite. Brian

[FMurtz]

I use it for the finish when making these.

[Mike]

In aeromodelling, superglue is used on all sorts of materials and there are many different types available: thick, thin, medium, low vapour, for foam. There are also accellerators and these can be very useful when the material has little or no moisture in it or when you are holding the parts together wating for the glue to grab.

- Mike

[Ian Jackson]

In message , Mike

[James Wilkinson Sword]

[Ian Jackson]

In message , James Wilkinson Sword writes

[James Wilkinson Sword]