Adhesive beads

Carolyn Dry

doi:10.1117/12.2295205

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27 March 2018 Adhesive beads

Carolyn Dry

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Proceedings Volume 10593, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication VIII; 105930O (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2295205
Event: SPIE Smart Structures and Materials + Nondestructive Evaluation and Health Monitoring, 2018, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

The objective of this project is to develop a new form of cyanoacrylate also known as superglue, namely in the form of adhesive beads. The benefits of this research would lead to a new functional product that includes an active, liquid form of superglue in the center with a hard outer coating that, when needed, could be activated. This could be beneficial in situations when the adhesive needs to act very quickly. For example, the bead could be inserted into the respective area and then activated to start the bonding process. This would eliminate the time that the superglue spends in contact with the moisture in the air, which starts the curing process. The main function is an increase in bonding strength, decrease in time exposed to the air, and use in hard to reach locations.

The superglue has been successfully made into beads by mixing the superglue with acid. Producing a shell coating on the beads by adding a base to the acid-superglue mix at which time the outer surface of the bead cures while the inner portion remains as liquid glue. At a too basic pH the entire bead cures, and at a too acidic pH no shell forms. The technology is uses ph to set up a shell of superglue and try to quench the reaction so the center of the bead remains liquid and reactive.

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Carolyn Dry "Adhesive beads", Proc. SPIE 10593, Bioinspiration, Biomimetics, and Bioreplication VIII, 105930O (27 March 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2295205

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