Cloete, William EdwardFocke, Walter Wilhelm2011-02-182011-02-182010-06Cloete, WE & Focke, WW 2010, 'Fast underwater bonding to polycarbonate using photoinitiated cyanoacrylate', International Journal of Adhesion and Adhesives, vol. 30, no. 4, pp. 191-254. [http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01437496]0143-749610.1016/j.ijadhadh.2010.01.002http://hdl.handle.net/2263/15877Rapid underwater bonding of clear polycarbonate to metal or plastic substrates at temperatures approaching 0 °C was studied. Bonding was achieved within minutes using ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate gel cured using the photoinitiator (dibenzoylferrocene) with a blue-LED light source. The optimum initiator concentration varied from 0.3% to 0.1 wt % for adhesive films 0.5 to 1.2 mm thick, respectively. The polymerisation rate shows a negative temperature dependence making it highly suitable for cold environments. The ultimate shear strength of the bonds was temperature independent and ranged from 1 MPa for metallic to 5 MPa for plastic substrates, respectively.en© 2010 Elsevier Ltd.CyanoacrylatesDestructive testingThermal analysisCure/hardeningPlasticsCyanoacrylatesPolycarbonatesPlastics at low temperaturesPostprint Article