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How does superglue work?
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โ How does superglue work?๐ The short answerUnlike 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. ๐ The long answerSuperglue? 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. 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. (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 (๐โโ๏ธ 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. โ
โSources for this week's newsletterโ
๐ Book of the weekโIntroducing Game Theory: A Graphic Guide by Alan LightmanโThis is a great little book to give you a crash course in game theory. I picked it up because I had some interest in the topic from learning about things like the prisoner's dilemma in school, but I wasn't ready to take the plunge on a thick book. I thought it gave an excellent overview of basic game theory concepts, and the illustrations were helpful to visualize what's going on. I found myself applying some game theory aspects in my day-to-day life when making decisions while and after reading this book. โ ๐ Catch up on other curious questions
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Learn something new every Friday. Join 2,000+ nerds and satisfy your curiosity one question at a time with topics including science, technology, history, and more.
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