Superglue and water

[Tygra]

This is a rather complicated question, and im still not sure if this is the right place to ask, but it seems most logical.

The question is, how much water do I use to make my superglue bonds stronger?

I know that water is the catalyst for superglue, and it strengthens the bond and speeds up the reaction and drying time. I also know that a catalyst is not used up in the process of catylising the reaction, and so is left over afterwards. However, asIi have found out through superglueing myself to my models and my fingers together, that the only way to weaken the bond is to soak the affected area in water. So, the water that is used to catalyse the reaction and strengthen the bond, also weakens it? I would like to know if the water left over afterwards has any significant long term or short term affect on the bond? How much water do i use, a drop, or can the freshly glued joint be soaked in water to strengthen the joint without damaging the bond?

Thanks In advance

Dan

[Robizzle]

Water makes bonds stronger?

Well that sounds like something made up to me. Maybe it's true! I can't say I'm an accomplished chemist, but I've never done it myself.

Quite frankly I'd have thought it would make the superglue weaker, because it would dilute it.

Sorry...never heard that myself...

[Caluin]

Water makes bonds stronger?

Well that sounds like something made up to me. Maybe it's true! I can't say I'm an accomplished chemist, but I've never done it myself.

Quite frankly I'd have thought it would make the superglue weaker, because it would dilute it.

Sorry...never heard that myself...

That it does. Ever wonder why superglue will stick your fingers together quicker than it will two pieces of metal? Because your skin is mostly water, while the metal only has trace amounts.

Here's a great site that'll explain it all - Click me!

Tygra:
I've found just a drop off the end of a painting brush or something similar more than enough for any simple bond I've needed. I would think that any more would just wash out the superglue.

[chrishin]

if using water use little tiny bit because water molecules between super glue will weaken the bond once it dries.
other alternative is anything with alkali, like sweat, and sports drink.

[CBrate]

Water does not make superglue set stronger. It may help it set faster but not stronger.

[Caluin]

Water does not make superglue set stronger. It may help it set faster but not stronger.

It does both.

Super glue, on the other hand, undergoes a process called anionic polymerization. Cyanoacrylate molecules start linking up when they come into contact with water, and they whip around in chains to form a durable plastic mesh. The glue thickens and hardens until the thrashing molecular strands can no longer move.

The more water, the more "chains" that are created. Without much water present, the fewer links are created and the weaker the bond.

[Gojiratoho]

Nope, Cal is right. Water makes superglue "stronger". It's Zip Kicker and other accelerants that make super glue weaker. They use a chemical compound as opposed to good olde AYCHtwoOH that makes it set faster. With water, it sets and creates more chains (just like in the linked article). I would suggest a spray bottle as opposed to say dipping the glue. A fine spray works better, and if you dip it, you can create a skin where the glue bonds as soon as it hits water, trapping the still wet glue beneath it.

This is probably why freezing a mini makes the glue bond brittle, since the glue uses moisture as a catalyst.

[Hekau Chasut]

I noticed that the most efficient way is to aspirate onto the metal. The water of your breath is enough to make it work better/faster without weakening the connection afterwards. At least with my glue it works like that!

[magnet_man]

Hey Caluin, I can't find any reference to say super glue is stronger with more water. It is a catalyst required to make the CA into chains. But if the reaction is spead up, the chains won't be oriented correctly and will be short. Generally any chain or crystal that is grown to fast will not be as strong as there isn't any time for the defects to work out.

I'm not saying your wrong, but I can't find anything to back up your statement or my intuition from several chem and material science classes.

[Cheredanine]

Sigh, this has been done to death, but Superglue was developed for military use, it may have been Korea but I think it was vietnam, it was designed to hold wounds closed, much quicker than stitching for a front line medic. Accordingly getting to glue to dry immediatley it is applied to a wound was a benefit, accordingly a glue which had body fluids as an accelerant was the best option and since water is present in all body fluids, a glue that dries quicker in contact with water was a definate plus