| Primers, Cleaners, Etchants, Initiators, Activators, | | | | metal ions. Some metals are more reactive than |
| Accelerators and Surface Conditioners are all | | | | others. In those cases a surface conditioner designed |
| examples of different chemicals that are used in | | | | for anaerobic adhesives will increase the cure speed |
| conjunction with some adhesive applications in order to | | | | or allow cure on a non-metal surface. Like |
| achieve desired results. The requirements of the | | | | accelerators, anaerobic surface conditioners may |
| process will guide the selection of the appropriate | | | | cause a reduction in bond strength. |
| chemical. In some cases the substrates must be | | | | Initiators or Activators |
| primed, in other instances the adhesive cure is | | | | Initiators or activators are catalysts. They are used |
| triggered with an activator. Use products as | | | | with two component adhesives and cause cure to |
| recommended by the manufacturer for use with the | | | | occur. These are specific to the adhesive so use |
| adhesive in your application. | | | | care in selection. |
| The following summary descriptions will introduce you | | | | Cleaner |
| to the ways that these chemicals can affect the | | | | Most commercially available cleaners sold by adhesive |
| outcome of an adhesive application. | | | | manufacturers are designed to clean up spilled |
| Primers | | | | adhesive – not to clean components to be |
| A primer is a surface coating that changes the | | | | bonded. Standard industrial cleaners and solvents |
| character of a surface so that an adhesive or coating | | | | generally do the job. |
| will adhere to it more effectively. Use of a primer can | | | | Cleaning components is easiest when the surface |
| significantly increase the adhesive’s ability to wet | | | | contaminants are known. Simple cleaning will do |
| out the surface. | | | | the trick to remove surface mold releases and |
| Plastics often require a primer that is quite specific to | | | | plasticizers and allow the adhesive more direct contact |
| certain types of plastics. For example, polyolefin | | | | with the plastic surface. For example heavily |
| primers are designed to increase adhesion to the | | | | plasticized PVC will have higher surface tension after |
| surface of polyolefin. When used on other materials | | | | being wiped down with isopropyl alcohol. Similarly |
| such as nylon and composites they can actually | | | | alcohol or acetone will remove many mold releases. |
| decrease the adhesion. | | | | Some plastics respond well to a simple cleaning that |
| A particular adhesive type may also have a specific | | | | eliminates the need for a primer without sacrificing |
| primer formulated for use. So while one primer will | | | | the strength of the bond. |
| increase the adhesion of cyanoacrylate to the | | | | Etchants |
| substrate, it will not increase the adhesion of a UV light | | | | Etchants are acid-based solutions designed to prepare |
| curable adhesive. | | | | challenging surfaces for bonding. The surface energy |
| Accelerator | | | | of many metal compounds, and some plastics, such as |
| When accelerators are used to speed up the cure | | | | fluoropolymers, will not be increased via either a |
| time, in most cases there is a tradeoff in the bond | | | | cleaner or a primer. Etchants can be purchased or |
| strength. When bonding a very porous material with | | | | the process can be outsourced. |
| a cyanoacrylate, accelerator applied to the substrate | | | | In closing, not every adhesive application requires the |
| can increase adhesion by causing the cure before the | | | | use of a chemical to achieve desired results, however |
| adhesive is fully absorbed by the material. | | | | the use of one may be just the trick you didn’t |
| Anaerobic Surface Conditioner | | | | know you were looking for! Consult the manufacturer |
| Anaerobic adhesives cure only in the presence of | | | | for recommendations for your particular application. |