# 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. - **Patent:** US 2768109 - **Original title:** Alcohol-catalyzed alpha-cyanoacrylate adhesive compositions - **Owner:** Eastman Kodak Co - **Granted:** 1956 - **Status:** Public domain (expired) - **Times cited:** 23 - **Field:** materials, mechanical ## What it does 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. ## 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. ## 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. ## Real-world examples 1. Woodworking adhesives 2. Super glue primers for porous materials 3. Industrial bonding of acidic substrates ## Why it matters 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. ## 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. **Full plain-English explainer:** https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/2768109/super-glue-cyanoacrylate **Original patent:** https://patents.google.com/patent/US2768109 --- _Source: PatentBrief — https://patentbrief.org. Patent facts are from public records; the plain-English explanation is PatentBrief's._ ## Related patents Semantically similar inventions in the PatentBrief corpus: - [Sticky, Tiny Plastic Balls Made from Acrylates](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3691140/post-it-repositionable-adhesive) — This 1972 patent describes how to make tiny, sticky, and durable plastic balls (microspheres) using a specific mix of acrylate chemicals and a special water-based process. - [The Sticky Microscopic Beads Behind Post-it Notes](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/4166152/post-it-note-adhesive) — 3M's 1977 patent on tiny, naturally sticky plastic beads that can stick to a surface, peel off easily without leaving residue, and be reused over and over again. - [How to Make Durable Non-Slip Surfaces Using Electron Beam Curing](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/5401560/polymer-backed-material-with-non-slip-surface-using-e-beam-cured-urethane-binder) — A method for creating flexible, non-slip materials by bonding mineral grit to plastic sheets using a special radiation-cured glue that stays strong even when stretched. - [How Soft Contact Lenses Were Invented Using Hydrogels](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3220960/soft-contact-lens-hydrogel) — This patent describes the chemical recipe for soft, water-absorbing plastic materials that form the basis of modern soft contact lenses. - [How Chemically Strengthened Glass Works](https://patentbrief.org/patent/us/3778335/gorilla-glass-chemically-strengthened) — A 1971 Corning patent describing a specific chemical recipe for glass that can be made incredibly tough by swapping small atoms in its surface for larger ones.