Cyanoacrylate adhesives became well known after their commercial introduction in the early 1970s in the consumer market. These unique products were initially referred to as "superglue". The name is well deserved since cyanoacrylate adhesives have certain characteristics like no other adhesive. These adhesives are solvent-free, one-part formulations that cure rapidly when pressed into a thin film between two substrates. Perhaps no other adhesive bonds so rapidly and so easily to such a variety of substrates as does a cyanoacrylate.
Early generations of cyanoacrylate adhesives had significant performance limitations. Since they were essentially thermoplastic in nature, cyanoacrylate adhesives exhibited poor thermal and chemical resistance. Since they were hard and brittle when cured, they exhibited poor impact and peel properties. These drawbacks limited the application of cyanoacrylate adhesives to high volume assembly operations with minimal performance requirements.
Newer formulations, however, have greatly improved the performance properties of these "instant" adhesives.