How Super Glue Bonds Acidic Surfaces Like Wood
A 1954 method for using alcohol to help super glue stick to acidic surfaces like wood, which normally prevent the glue from hardening properly.
Original patent title: “Alcohol-catalyzed alpha-cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions”
A 1954 method for using alcohol to help super glue stick to acidic surfaces like wood, which normally prevent the glue from hardening properly. Granted to Eastman Kodak Co in 1956 with 1 claim and 23 forward citations, and it is now in the public domain.
Key facts
Coverage
What does this patent actually cover?
This patent describes a chemical trick to make cyanoacrylate adhesives—commonly known as super glue—work on surfaces that are naturally acidic, such as wood. Normally, acidic surfaces prevent the glue from polymerizing, or hardening, effectively. By first applying an alkyl monohydric alcohol (a simple alcohol) to the wood surface, the inventorinventorThe person who actually conceived the invention. Listed on the patent regardless of who owns it.Read more → neutralizes the acidity or creates a favorable environment for the glue to set. The process involves moistening the wood with the alcohol and then applying the monomeric lower alkyl alpha-cyanoacrylate adhesive to form a strong bond.
The gap
What does this patent NOT cover?
- Does not cover the invention of cyanoacrylate adhesive itself.
- Does not cover bonding non-acidic surfaces that do not require an alcohol primer.
- Does not cover the use of alcohols with more than 8 carbon atoms.
- Does not cover adhesives that are not based on alpha-cyanoacrylate monomers.
These exclusions are unique to PatentBrief — derived from the actual claim language, not patent-office boilerplate.
What made this novel
The inventorinventorThe person who actually conceived the invention. Listed on the patent regardless of who owns it.Read more → realized that the failure of the glue on wood wasn't a problem with the glue's strength, but a chemical interference from the wood's acidity that could be bypassed with a simple, cheap alcohol treatment.
The Patent Drawing
Schematic visualization of the patent's claim structure. Hand-drawn diagrams in progress for each landmark patent.
Where you've seen this
Real-world examples
Woodworking adhesives
Super glue primers for porous materials
Industrial bonding of acidic substrates
Why it matters
The bigger picture
This discovery was essential for expanding the utility of super glue from a niche industrial chemical into a versatile household adhesive. It solved a specific failure point where the glue would remain liquid on wood, making it reliable for carpentry and woodworking applications.
Filed
June 2, 1954
Granted
October 23, 1956
Market context
Who's building on this
Companies in this space
Companies like Henkel (Loctite) and various chemical manufacturers continue to refine cyanoacrylate formulations. The core chemistry remains a staple in the adhesives industry, with modern versions often incorporating additives to handle a wider range of surface pH levels without needing a separate primer.
Market impact
This patent helped establish super glue as a viable consumer product by ensuring it could be used on wood, one of the most common materials in construction and crafts. It enabled the commercialization of specialized 'wood-bonding' super glues and expanded the market reach of Eastman Kodak's original chemical discovery.
Claim 1 — Plain English
What this patent covers
This patent describes a chemical trick to make cyanoacrylate adhesives—commonly known as super glue—work on surfaces that are naturally acidic, such as wood. Normally, acidic surfaces prevent the glue from polymerizing, or hardening, effectively. By first applying an alkyl monohydric alcohol (a simple alcohol) to the wood surface, the inventor neutralizes the acidity or creates a favorable environment for the glue to set. The process involves moistening the wood with the alcohol and then applying the monomeric lower alkyl alpha-cyanoacrylate adhesive to form a strong bond.
The clever bit
The inventor realized that the failure of the glue on wood wasn't a problem with the glue's strength, but a chemical interference from the wood's acidity that could be bypassed with a simple, cheap alcohol treatment.
What it does not cover
- Does not cover the invention of cyanoacrylate adhesive itself.
- Does not cover bonding non-acidic surfaces that do not require an alcohol primer.
- Does not cover the use of alcohols with more than 8 carbon atoms.
- Does not cover adhesives that are not based on alpha-cyanoacrylate monomers.
Patent Journey
From filing to expiry
PatentBrief Score
Impact Score
Early stage
Citation count
28/40
Moderately cited
Claim breadth
1/20
Narrow claimsclaimsThe numbered statements at the end of a patent that legally define what the inventor owns.Read more →
Recency
0/20
Older than 20 years
Assignee scale
0/20
Independent or smaller assigneeassigneeThe entity that owns the patent — usually the inventor's employer or a company.Read more →
PatentBrief Impact Score — based on citation count, claim breadth, recency, and assignee scale. Not a legal assessment.
Heuristic Value Estimate
What this patent might be worth
$17K – $55K
Midpoint $35K · expired or expiring · industry ×1.6
Heuristic only — blends forward/backward citation counts, claim scope, time remaining, litigation history, and CPC-derived industry baseline. Real valuations need a professional appraisal.
The original legal language
Original claims
1 claim as filed with the patent office.
Concepts involved
Citations
Patent lineage
Cite this patent
Coover, J. H. W. (1956). How Super Glue Bonds Acidic Surfaces Like Wood (U.S. Patent No. 2,768,109). U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2768109/super-glue-cyanoacrylate
Auto-generated from the patent record. Double-check author order and the issue date against the official USPTO document before submitting.
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Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
What does How Super Glue Bonds Acidic Surfaces Like Wood cover?
A 1954 method for using alcohol to help super glue stick to acidic surfaces like wood, which normally prevent the glue from hardening properly.
Who owns patent US 2768109?
Eastman Kodak Co owns this patent, granted in 1956.
When does this patent expire?
This patent has expired and is now in the public domain — anyone can use the invention freely.
What is patent US 2768109 cited by?
This patent has been cited by 23 later patents that build on its ideas.
What problem does this patent solve?
This discovery was essential for expanding the utility of super glue from a niche industrial chemical into a versatile household adhesive. It solved a specific failure point where the glue would remain liquid on wood, making it reliable for carpentry and woodworking applications.
What does this patent NOT cover?
Does not cover the invention of cyanoacrylate adhesive itself.
Same assignee
More from Eastman Kodak Co
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