The adhesive manufacturer Henkel produces various Loctite instant adhesives – also known as Loctite superglues – each of which is suitable for a different application, for example due to the different viscosities of the adhesives.

For some Loctite instant adhesives, Henkel has changed the formula to remove certain chemicals classified as hazardous in the GHS (Globally Harmonized System of Classification) from the formulation.

Loctite superglue

Henkel offers one- or two-component instant adhesives and instant adhesive gels under the Loctite brand. Depending on their viscosity, these instant adhesives are suitable for bonding certain materials together or for filling and sealing gaps.

Cyanoacrylate technology

Instant adhesives are generally based on so-called cyanoacrylate technology. Cyanoacrylate (CA) is a chemical compound that is used for the production of instant adhesives – also known as superglues or instant adhesives – due to its adhesive effect. This is why these adhesives are also called CA adhesives, especially in the industrial and commercial sector.

There are both one-component cyanoacrylate adhesives and two-component cyanoacrylate adhesives. With the latter, the curing in particular can be influenced by the mixture.

Another special feature among instant adhesives are instant adhesive gels, which are intended for use on vertical surfaces and for filling gaps where sagging or dripping would cause problems due to their high viscosity.

Depending on the instant adhesive, the curing and fixing time may be longer or shorter. CA accelerators can be used to shorten the curing and fixing time. In general, it can be said that light-curing instant adhesives cure the fastest.

Areas of application and materials to be bonded

Instant adhesives are used in almost all industries. These fast-bonding adhesives are used in the automotive industry, for example, but also in medical technology.

With the exception of glass, instant adhesives are suitable for a wide range of materials. For certain plastics with low surface energy, Henkel’s Loctite SF 770 polyolefin primer is recommended for surface preparation, including the bonding of polyethylene, polypropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and thermoplastic elastomers.

Improved instant adhesives without the addition of HQ and MMBP

In view of the increasing regulation of ingredients in instant adhesives, Henkel has refrained from adding HQ (hydroquinone) and MMBP (2,2′-methylenebis-(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol)) to the instant adhesives listed in the following table. However, traces of these substances may still be present in the adhesives due to common manufacturing processes and/or certain raw material impurities. For this reason, Henkel has set the following specification values:

  • <50 PPM for HQ (hydroquinone)
  • <100 PPM for MMBP (2,2′-methylenebis-(4-methyl-6-tert-butylphenol))
Instant adhesives without the addition of HQ and MMBP Description/main feature
Loctite 401Universal instant adhesive, medium viscosity, fast setting time, high shear strength on a wide range of substrates
Loctite 402High-performance instant adhesive, fast setting time, reliable performance at operating temperatures up to 135 °C
Loctite 406Universally applicable instant adhesive, very low viscosity, fast setting time, suitable for thin adhesive gaps and close-fitting assemblies
Loctite 454Universally applicable instant adhesive gel (drip-free), fast setting time, also suitable for porous materials and vertical surfaces
Loctite 495Universal instant adhesive, low viscosity, fast bonding of a wide range of materials
Loctite 3090Two-component instant adhesive, filling of adhesive gaps of more than 5 mm in a wide variety of materials

Improved activators

Henkel has also made improvements to the activators. In the case of the activators Loctite SF 7455 and Loctite SF 7452, formulas are used that are free of DMPT (N,N-dimethyl-p-toluidine). In the activator Loctite SF 7455 DMPT has been replaced by a sulfenamide and in the activator Loctite SF 7452 by organic disulfide.

Buy Loctite instant adhesives online at abovo

You can buy the following Loctite superglues (Henkel) from the Henkel distributor for Switzerland, the online retailer abovo, in the online store:

You can also buy the Loctite SF 770 primer separately.

Before applying any adhesive, we also recommend using Loctite SF 7063 to degrease and clean surfaces.

Advice on Loctite instant adhesives

If you want to know which instant adhesive is right for your application, it is best to consult a Loctite expert from abovo. This is because every instant adhesive has a different behavior that depends, among other things, on the materials to be bonded and the given conditions. The curing times and clamping times can also be relevant when choosing the right adhesive.

Contact our experts at abovo today by e-mail or telephone:

  • E-mail: info@abovo.ch
  • Telephone number: +41 32 552 44 44