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ASK THE EXPERTS
Q: Why doesn't glue dry inside the bottle? A: All glues work by "curing" or "setting," Glues are stable inside the container because the conditions for curing are not present. Common white glues are usually a suspension of polyvinyl acetate in water. When white glue is dispensed from the container, the polyvinyl acetate cross-links as the water evaporates and forms adhesive bonds with the surfaces being glued. Superglue, which contains cyanoacrylate, cures much faster than white glue because cyanoacrylate reacts quickly with water molecules in the air or on surfaces to give long chain polymers that form strong adhesive bonds with the surfaces being glued.
Mel Josten
--Kofi Outlaw E-mail your questions to asktheexperts@vanderbilt.edu, or via mail to "Ask the Experts" c/o Division of Public Affairs, 511 Kirkland Hall, Nashville, TN 37240
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