What makes superglue so super

By Jeremy Shere

Posted June 13, 2023

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Transcript

D: Help! Help!!

Y: [OUT OF BREATH] What's wrong, Don?!? Hey, at ease soldier. There's no need to salute.

D: I'm not saluting. I was fixing my coffee mug with superglue and I must have gotten some on my fingers because I scratched my forehead and now my hand is stuck to my head.

Y: Superglue? Cool! Remember that commercial with the construction worker who super glued his hardhat to a metal beam and held himself up by it?

D: Yeah, whatever. Can you get me unstuck?

Y: What makes superglue so strong, anyway?

D: If I tell you, will you get my hand off my head?

Y: Sure.

D: Cyanoacrylate. There, now will you please--

Y: Whoa there, partner. Cyano-what?

D: Cyanoacrylate. It's a sticky substance called a resin. When its molecules come into contact with water molecules on skin or any other surface they begin to form chains that lash around and create a really strong, durable plastic weave. Chains of molecules keep getting added into the mesh until the structure is so thick and hard that the chains can't move anymore. Anything stuck to the mesh is usually stuck for good. Now if you don't mind--

Y: So what is such strong glue used for?

D: Besides fixing coffee cups and larger things, a special type of superglue can be used to close wounds instead of stitches.

Y: Neat. Now what was it that you wanted me to do?

D: [EXASPERATED] Get me outta this!

Y: I know, just kidding. Now hold still.

D: What are you gonna do, paint my nails?

Y No. This is nail polish remover, which just happens to be good at dissolving glue. Even superglue...there.

D: [RELIEVED] Ah. Thank you. Now there's just one more thing I need.

Y: What?

D: A new coffee mug.

A wall in a store with lots of superglue available

Besides fixing coffee cups and larger things, a special type of superglue can be used to close wounds instead of stitches. (waldopepper / flickr)

Remember that commercial with the construction worker who super glued his hardhat to a metal beam and held himself up by it? That stuff is super effective, and you have to be careful when applying it.

What makes superglue so strong, anyway?

That would be cyanoacrylate. It's a sticky substance called a resin. When its molecules come into contact with water molecules on skin or any other surface they begin to form chains that lash around and create a really strong, durable plastic weave. Chains of molecules keep getting added into the mesh until the structure is so thick and hard that the chains can't move anymore. Anything stuck to the mesh is usually stuck for good.

Such strong glue is great for fixing coffee cups and larger things. There's even a special type of superglue that can be used to close wounds instead of stitches.

And if you ever do have some superglue applied in the wrong spot, nail polish remover will help dissolve the glue.

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