HODINA CHEMIE

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particularly suitable for flexible materials, which

are very rare in plastic modelling. Examples of

such materials include the aforementioned rubber

parts, softened and foamed plastics or composite

materials, and several others. In general, these

are joints where it is claimed that the flexibility

of the glued materials and the durability of the

glued joint under stress are maintained. Such

connections are not typical for static plastic

modelling and the use of such special glues is

not generally of any great advantage to plastic

modellers.

of contact of the target components, which can

be used to advantage, for example, in the joints

between main parts of the model. Complete

curing of the applied glue is generally within

one second of application. Thanks to the speed

of curing, the disadvantage of using the adhesive

in porous materials is eliminated, since the

adhesive sets up faster, before it is absorbed

into the surface and thus remains in the glued

joint, which ensures the required strength of the

joint. For the sake of completeness, it is good

to mention that the presented representative of

super fast instant glues is not interchangeable

with other types of cyanoacrylate glues.

CA BOLT MEDIUM

Secondary adhesives of medium viscosity are

very versatile in their use. This type of glue is

suitable for most materials (even porous ones)

and can be used for most common situations

encountered when assembling plastic models

and their accessory, dissimilar items. Their

application is possible in one of two ways, as in

the case of thin instant adhesives. They can be

applied to one or both bonding surfaces, which

are then pressed together. The reaction time

is longer compared to thin glues and varies

between 5 and 15 seconds. This extended curing

interval gives us the possibility of subsequent

manipulation and correction of part positions.

This can be used to great advantage when

gluing more complex or larger units, where it

may be necessary to achieve optimal alignment.

The second typical method of application is the

drip method, which, however, due to the thicker

consistency of the glue compared to thin glues,

requires a gap of increased size to a minimum

of 0.1 mm. However, its viscosity is of a universal

consistency that can be mixed with both thin and

thick types of instant glues.

CA BOLT THICK

Thick cyanoacrylate adhesives (often described

as gel types) are characterized by having the

highest viscosity of the discussed basic types

of CA adhesives. This property allows them to

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INFO Eduard

SPECIALIZED ACCESSORY ITEMS

FOR CA ADHESIVES

be used effectively in the case of gluing porous

materials and at the same time the possibility of

joining glued surfaces with a greater clearance

of up to 0.5 mm. When gluing parts with greater

clearance, the curing time of the glue is

significantly extended and can be sped up using

accelerators, which will be discussed in the

next part of this article. Thick CA adhesives are

best applied in the classic way, where they are

applied to one or both mating surfaces, and then

the components are pressed together. As already

indicated, the total reaction time is significantly

longer, which carries with it the added bonus of

manipulation time and fine adjustments. The use

of thick instant adhesives is very suitable for small

parts, when after applying the glue to point(s)

of contact, time is allowed for a clean and precise

connection. Due to their composition, this class of

adhesive is normally mixable with thinner types

(medium and thin adhesives). A longer curing

time is associated with the negative impact

stemming from a greater amount of fumes visible

emanating from the area of glue application.

These vapors, which we have already described,

can be produced for a long time with this type of

glue, and it is advisable to take this manifestation

into account during future assembly steps,

especially with regard to clear parts of the model.

CA BLACK BOLT

It‘s been a few years since the

modelling world was hit by the

phenomenon of the so-called

‘black instant glues’, which sand

very well. In most cases, it is

not an admixture of a special

miracle ingredient or black

pigment, but the addition of

rubber (if its presence is desired)

to the glue. This special type of

cyanoacrylate adhesives stands

out, in addition to its visibility

on most common surfaces, due

to its elasticity. It is therefore

Since the mere application of cyanoacrylate

adhesives and subsequent gluing is often not

enough for the ideal desired results, there are

special accessories for working with instant

adhesives. The basic products are accelerators

and, conversely, debonders of already hardened

glue The following takes a closer look at these.

BOLT UP Accelerator

Accelerators are used for instant or very fast

curing of CA adhesives, even in thick layers. They

have a thin consistency and their application is

via a swab, wire tip, dispersal sprayer or a brush.

The reaction speed on contact with the glue is

almost immediate, which is appreciated when

there is a need to quickly cure a large amount

of glue between parts with visible clearance or

when the glued surfaces are compressed under

ambient stress. Immediate bonding of the contact

surfaces between the parts is achieved, and

the need to further manually press the parts

together becomes no longer necessary. When

choosing an activator, it is good to pay attention

to the suitability of its use on plastic parts.

BOLT OFF Debonder

In modelling practice, it is almost impossible to

always achieve gluing of parts without unwanted

and visible traces of glue around the application.

Furthermore, incorrect positioning of the parts

can lead to a need to separate the attached parts

April 2023