Henkel Corp. developed its Loctite 3092 to address "the void in the marketplace for a gap-filling instant adhesive," Henkel's John Lafond tells New Equipment Digest.

For gaps up to 0.002 inches, Henkel Corp.'s Loctite 3092 cyanoacrylate instant adhesive fixtures to handling strength in 10 to 20 seconds—or faster than the time required for most people to pronounce the word "cyanoacrylate."

But the characteristic that excites John Lafond, technology manager, instant adhesives, is the adhesive's ability to cure solid through gaps of 0.200 inches or greater, which is 20 times larger than what conventional cyanoacrylates can fill, Lafond explains in an interview with New Equipment Digest.  

NED: What led Henkel to develop this particular adhesive?

JL: Typical cyanoacrylates are unable to fill gaps larger than 0.010 inches. Recognizing the void in the marketplace for a gap-filling instant adhesive, Henkel chemists developed Loctite 3092, a truly innovative cyanoacrylate instant adhesive that cures solid through gaps of 0.200 inches and greater.

Loctite 3092 instant adhesive fixtures to handling strength in just 10 to 20 seconds for gaps to 0.002 inches and in 4 to 5 minutes for gaps to 0.200 inches, allowing the user to move quickly on to the next processing step. When you combine gap-filling abilities, fast fixture speeds, bond strengths in the thousands of psi, and ease of use (no curing-equipment requirements), this instant adhesive compares to no other on the market.

JL: This unique, patent-pending cyanoacrylate adhesive comes in an easy-to-use, handheld syringe dispenser that allow for very precise dispensing. Loctite 3092 will cure through gaps 20 times larger than conventional cyanoacrylates, and offers high bond strengths on plastics, rubbers and metals.

This is a two-part product packaged in a heavy-duty syringe that quickly and automatically mixes the two components through a replaceable mix tip. Loctite 3092 also cures hard and clear in open air, allowing for difficult surface repairs.

NED: Any particular problems that came up during the development process?

JL: A precise 10:1 mix ratio of the two components is essential to ensure the promised product functionality, and hand mixing is not possible at that ratio. We had to find a way to combine the product components in a package capable of precision mixing and dispensing. The design of that package was a challenge.

JL: Approximately three years.

JL: During the design process, our company was committed to creating a heavy-duty syringe package capable of mixing the exact ratio of the two components and providing high-precision dispensing. While this packaging challenge did add to the end cost of the product, serious users consider both the adhesive and its robust package to be of high value.

JL: This unique adhesive is favored by professionals who need to build or repair devices where bond line gap can vary significantly. One industry with highly satisfied users is in the paint/body/exterior channel of the Automotive Aftermarket segment where rapid, high-strength repair of plastics, rubbers, and metal components is critical. Another interesting market segment is hobbyists who build and repair high-value recreational models such as kit airplanes and helicopters.

JL: This two-component cyanoacrylate initially found success in western Europe and has now been introduced to North America. Loctite 3092 is truly the ultimate repair adhesive for serious professionals given its fast cure speed, high strength and ability to cure gaps over 0.200 inches. Popular Mechanics recently awarded Loctite 3092 its 2012 Editor’s Choice Award for best car technology.

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