Does cyanoacrylic adhesive have a shelf life? I am storing mine in a freezer. I would think some of it is two+ years old. Is it time for it to go bad? Well, having written that, mine did get better after it thawed out. I think it is about 2-3 years old. Seems to be okay. I did have some that was just on the shelf and not refrigerated; it went bad after about 8 months. [ 27. March 2004, 23:54: Message edited by: sapacif ]
ACC has an indefinete shelf life if unopened. Its when you open it that the problems start and I've found that refrigeration does not help all that much vs room temp storage. Basically its how airtight your bottle remains. The VOCs (solvents) in ACC cook off quickly allowing it to set up and harden. Any air leakage in your container will end up with a solid mass in your bottle or your super thin will almost turn the consistency of gap filling ACC. Keeping the applicator tip clean as possible, and the neck free of product will result in a tighter fitting cap and prolong the life of your ACC. I usually can get upto 8 months out of a bottle kept at room temperature. I usually put a small drop of ACC on my workboard and use a stainless steel dental pick to apply it and not the tip of the bottle, which manages to keep it cleaner and gets a better seal with the cap. John Moore
Good advice. I think the part I have been missing is about keeping the tip clean by not using it to apply the ACC. But, if you put some on a board at your workbench, isn't that the same as applying it to an object? Do you just let it drip out onto the board in a droplet? Thanks for the help.
I always use the smallest size container of ACC available. That way when it does go bad, there is less wasted. A drop on a piece of smooth card stock, and a sharp toothpick for application purposes. Boxcab E50
I don't believe ACC glue uses Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC's as you say. As I understand it, ACC is reactive with water vapor. That is why it sets almost instantly when it gets on your skin as compared to when you apply it to a piece of plastic. It doesn't actually "dry" it has a chemical reaction that sets it. To make it last longer you need to keep it away from moisture. Every time you squeeze the bottle, a little bit of ambient air gets in the bottle to displace the glue that is used. The air contains moisture which reacts with the glue still in the bottle. So the best solution is to buy small bottles and use it quickly once opened. David
I don't believe ACC glue uses Volatile Organic Compounds or VOC's as you say. Ahh but they are there in the mix, which is why we use it for raising finger prints. Its ability to transfer to the oils left from the human body makes it excellent for this purpose on a lot of different materials. Which brings to mind the caution about using this stuff. Don't ACC something and put the roof on or close it up or you will find your prints messing up everything, especially clear plastic. It needs to fully dry with no detectable off gassing. As far as keeping the tip clean I just hold it above the surface and let a small drop fall on the work board. The double ended dental pick is surgical steel and can be used over and over again and the end without the glue is used to ocasionally last minute reposition something. John Moore
I used to put a drop onto my work board but kept gluing my fingers or hand to the board, (that's a good reason to get some de-bonder). I started using the clear bags that detail parts come in but coudn't see the stupid drop on the clear plastic!! The bags were easier to remove if you stick your finger or hand in it, ( Oh yea, like that ever happens....). Now I use a white business card, never thought of using the dental pick.....thanks for the tip!!
ACC does indeed react with water (vapor) and can be kept longer if you keep it in a jar with all those little packets of dessicant that you can collect from virtually anything that is shipped (especially by boat). I collect those little bags and keep them, with the ACC, in a peanut butter jar (I also use the smallest size of ACC I can find). I have been able to keep it over a year until it gets too thick to use.
Yep, when we could actually get a decent cyanoacrylate, (back in our RC aircraft days), we'd buy the smallest bottle possible and use it fast (under a week per bottle for us), because strength was critical as well...the older it gets, the weaker it gets. It was called "Hot Stuff" and use to set instantly on anything porous (like wood or fingertips) and would smoke profusely as soon as you put a drop out. Magic stuff....very intoxicating if you work directly over it As john mentioned, DONT put the lid on until its stopped smoking... if your using it on a timber building with clear plastic windows and put the lid on too quick, all your windows will 'frost up'. Doesnt look like much smoke, but you'd be amazed how big an area it can fill!
We started out with Eastman 910 back when a bond was instant only when pressure was applied. Is ACC of today formulated differently? Maybe today it is more polyurethane. That stuff is very sensitive to moisture, and much stronger than the little tubes of ACC you get at a drug store or super market.
