Jul 11, 2014

What Makes Super Glue Work

Super glue works like a two-part adhesive, the glue in the tube and the hardener is water. Most dry surfaces have microscopic droplets of water adhering to them. When super glue comes in contact with these droplets they create the chemical reaction that causes the super glue to harden.

You can wipe both surfaces with a very slightly damp cloth or breathe on it, like breathing on a mirror to speed the adhesive's setting. It sticks to skin because skin is full of large, medium, small and microscopic grooves and pores that provide the perfect type of roughness for glue to grab. Second, the skin tissues are saturated with water so the super glue can soak in and find water to cause the hardening reaction.

The super glue that doctors use is different than the type available in hardware stores. Surgical super glue contains types of alcohols that are less toxic to human tissue. The type sold in stores uses ethyl of methyl alcohols that can kill cells.

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