Adhesive type
Cyanoacrylate
Instant, thin and very convenient, but only on close-fitting joints that will not flex or get hot.
Also sold as Superglue, CA glue, instant adhesive, Krazy Glue.
Cyanoacrylate is the chemistry sold as superglue or CA glue. Most versions are one-part liquids that start polymerising when traces of moisture on the surfaces neutralise the stabiliser. This is why a close, clean joint can grab in seconds, while a dry atmosphere, an acidic surface or a visible gap can make it slow or unreliable. The thin bond line is part of the design. Standard liquid grades are not gap fillers, although gel and rubber-toughened products cover some wider or more demanding joints.
Use it when two small, well-fitting parts need rapid handling strength. It works especially well on many metals, rigid plastics and rubbers. Porous grades can handle wood, leather and card. It develops strong tensile and shear bonds but standard grades are hard and have poor peel and impact tolerance. A repair that is regularly flexed or levered apart often fails suddenly. PE, PP, PTFE and silicone usually need a named primer or a different adhesive. Moisture speeds cure, but too much can cause whitening and a weaker surface cure. Full chemical resistance takes longer than the first grab, commonly at least 24 hours. Temperature resistance, water resistance and flexibility vary markedly among standard, high-temperature, medical, low-bloom and toughened grades, so check the exact datasheet rather than relying on the family name.
At a glance
- Strength
- Medium
- Flexibility
- Rigid
- Gap filling
- Low
- Water resistance
- Water resistant
- UV resistance
- Unknown
- How it cures
- Moisture cure
- Typical working time
- a few seconds
- Typical full cure
- 24 hours
- Typical service temperature
- -30C to 80C
- Needs clamping
- No
- Two part
- No
These figures describe the family in general. Always use the numbers on the datasheet for the product you actually buy.
What it is for
Small close-fitting repairs; locating components before another process; bonding rubber seals and O-rings with a suitable grade; clean breaks in rigid plastic or ceramic where the pieces mate exactly; model making; wicking into a tight crack with a low-viscosity grade.
Where it falls down
It is bad at filling gaps. Cure slows as the bond line widens. Standard grades are brittle and weak in peel, so hinges, shoe soles, flexible fabric and impact-loaded parts are poor jobs. It can craze some clear plastics and leave white bloom around the joint. PE, PP, PTFE and silicone are not reliable without a specified primer. Large areas are hard to align before the adhesive grabs. Long exposure to heat or water can reduce strength, depending on grade.
Getting a good bond
Dry-fit first because you may have only seconds to align the parts. Remove oil, dust, loose oxide and old adhesive. Use a plastic-safe cleaner where stress cracking is possible. Keep the joint close fitting and apply only enough adhesive to wet one surface. More glue usually gives a slower, weaker joint. Light abrasion can help on suitable rigid surfaces, but remove every particle afterwards. Use the adhesive manufacturer's primer only on the substrates it names. Do not add moisture directly unless the instructions call for it.
Safety
Cyanoacrylate bonds skin in seconds. Do not pull bonded skin apart. The representative SDS directs you to soak it in warm soapy water and peel it apart gently. It also lists eye irritation and respiratory irritation. A large drop can generate enough heat while curing to burn skin. Keep it away from eyes and do not lean over the nozzle. Vapour can irritate the nose and throat, especially over a large application. Cotton or wool can trigger a rapid, hot reaction, so do not use them to wipe a spill. Protect the bench with a non-absorbent disposable covering.
Materials it suits
| Material | Suitability | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ABS | Excellent | Cyanoacrylate is rated excellent for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| Natural rubber | Excellent | Permabond directly recommends 105 for natural rubber and says its POP primer is not needed for that product system. It is best suited to thin, close-fitting bonds rather than wide flexible areas. |
| Nitrile rubber | Excellent | Permabond states that its cyanoacrylates bond nitrile rubber well and that the rubber generally tears before the adhesive fails. Flexible grades are preferable where the joint must move. |
| Brass | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| Chipboard | Good | 3M reports substrate failure in ambient particleboard overlap-shear tests with its instant wood adhesives. Low-viscosity grades may soak into the board, so the selected viscosity and amount must prevent a starved joint. |
| Copper | Good | Permabond identifies methyl cyanoacrylates as suitable for copper with high shear strength. Use them for small, close-fitting joints; impact or polar-solvent exposure can justify a structural adhesive instead. Abrade first |
| EPDM | Good | Permabond identifies 105 cyanoacrylate for EPDM. It suits small, close-fitting joints, but its stated poor resistance to polar solvents makes it a cautious choice for wet service. |
| Glazed ceramic | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| HIPS | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| Laminate | Good | 3M reports substrate failure in HPL overlap-shear tests for three instant wood adhesive viscosities. This supports small close-fitting parts; it does not make cyanoacrylate suitable for full worktop lamination. |
| Melamine faced board | Good | 3M reports substrate failure in ambient overlap-shear tests on melamine with its instant wood adhesives. This supports selected products for small close-fitting joints, not broad panels or every melamine texture. |
| PLA | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| PLA+ | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| Polystyrene | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| Porcelain | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| PVC | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| Resin 3D print | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. Abrade first |
| Unglazed ceramic | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| uPVC | Good | Cyanoacrylate is rated good for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Suitability still depends on the other substrate, joint design and service environment. |
| Varnished wood | Good | 3M reports ambient overlap-shear results for its instant wood adhesives on polyurethane and polyacrylic finishes. This supports selected instant products on those tested finishes, not all varnishes or paints. |
| ASA | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Abrade first |
| HDPE | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| LDPE | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| Neoprene | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate can suit a small close-fitting repair, but a standard grade produces a stiff edge and is a poor match for broad flexible foam. Choose a rubber-toughened grade and keep the bond area small. |
| Nylon | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. |
| PET | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| PETG | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Abrade first |
| Polypropylene | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| POM (Delrin) | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. The prepared surface must be sound and consistently keyed where the finish permits. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed Abrade first |
| Silicone rubber | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| TPE | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. A named primer, LSE formulation or controlled surface treatment may be essential. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. Primer needed |
| Vinyl | Conditional | Cyanoacrylate is rated conditional for this material as an application-level assessment, not as a blanket manufacturer claim. Use only after a product-specific test on the actual grade and joint. |
Products in this family
Last reviewed 8 October 2026.