Thursday, February 02, 2012

Cyanoacrylate adhesive - accidental bond with the skin

Bond between the cyanoacrylate adhesive and the skin is created very quickly, so there is no point in rushing to pull skin apart "before it bonds". Just remain calm and take your time. 

Cyanoacrylate adhesives are rapid curing, strong bonding agents that will bond human tissue and skin in seconds. Experience has shown that accidents due to cyanoacrylates are handled best by passive, non-surgical first aid. Cyanoacrylates work best with tension. Pulling bonded materials apart (fingers included) will strengthen the bond. Cyanoacrylates have the lowest strength in a peel mode. 

Debonders also release the cured adhesive. Contact us for more details on de-bonders.

Treatment of specific types of accidents are given below:

With the Skin: Immerse bonded areas in warm soapy water. Peel or roll skin apart. Peel the skin apart with a spatula, teaspoon handle or a pencil by pushing it between the bonded areas. Remove cured adhesive with warm, soapy water. This may take several applications. Acetone or a Debonder is also effective in removing cured cyanoacrylate off of skin. 

With the eyelid: If the eyelids are stuck together or bonded to the eyeball wash them thoroughly with warm water and apply a gauze patch. The eye will open without further action within 1-4 days. There will be no residual damage. Do not try to force eyes open. 

With the Eyeball: Cyanoacrylates adhesives will attach itself to the eye protein and will disassociate from it over time, usually within several hours. This will cause periods of weeping and double vision until cured adhesive is cleared. 

With the mouth: If lips are accidentally stuck together, apply copious amounts of warm water and encourage maximum wetting and pressure from saliva inside the mouth. Peel or roll, (do not pull) lips apart. It is almost impossible to swallow cyanoacrylate. The adhesive solidifies upon contact with saliva (moisture) and could adhere to the inside of the mouth. Saliva will lift the adhesive in 1-2 days, avoid swallowing the adhesive after detachment.

Cyanoacrylates give off heat, exothermic reaction, when curing. In rare cases a large quantity can cause a burn. Burns should be treated normally after the cured adhesive is removed from the skin as described above. It should never be necessary to surgically remove cyanoacrylates or to separate bonded skin.

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