A powerful water-resistant cyanoacrylate

Most cyanoacrylate adhesives are not water-resistant, and are prone to weakening with long exposure to water and moisture, especially in a hot environment. This often poses a problem to manufacturers, who are looking for a reliable bonding solution for their products even when exposed to challenging environmental conditions.

One such Permabond customer uses sensors to monitor the thickness of steel pipes in the oil and gas industry. The sensors check corrosion and erosion levels, allowing for simple monitoring of the thickness and overall health of a pipe. With oil and gas operations located all over the world, often in very hot and humid countries, they were looking for an adhesive to bond their sensors to the pipes that was able to withstand these conditions, all the while offering a long lifespan.

Permabond 712 was specially developed to offer outstanding water, heat and humidity resistance. It passes 85/85 accelerated life testing, whereby a product is subjected to 85degC and 85% relative humidity for up to 1,000 hours. This test is often used in the automotive industry and is a key indicator of 712's ability to withstand tough environmental conditions.

Its thermal resistance also stands out - it maintains 80% strength after 100 hours at 120degC on mild steel. Its key feature, however, is its water resistance. Once cured, it offers good strength during continuous underwater exposure, a remarkable feature. Most cyanoacrylates will quickly degrade underwater and offer little to no structural performance whatsoever.

Permabond 712 bonds well to a wide variety of substrates, including metals, plastics and rubbers. Its adhesion to rubber is particularly noteworthy, considering that many underwater adhesive applications are rubber-based and that pipe seals and gaskets, as well as valve seatings (whether underwater or not) are often made of this material.

712 has also been found to offer great resistance against attack and degradation from the plasticisers and other additives found in many rubbers. These plasticisers can begin to migrate outwards from the rubber during thermal aging, which can lead to weakened adhesive performance.