Most of the individuals would have encountered the issue of drying of their superglue at the time of reuse. There are several brands of such glue which in technical terms is known as a cyanoacrylate adhesive. Though these perform their intended function perfectly they often need to be stored very carefully to prevent them from going dry in their container.

The reason for the occurrence of dried superglue is because many of these adhesives cure when they are exposed to moisture or oxygen. When temperature rises the curing action is facilitated at a greater pace. Hence, they need to be kept in a cool and dry place where chances of moisture seeping in will be absent.  

Given below are some tips which will ensure a longer shelf life of your superglue.

Keep the air out of the bottle or tube of adhesive

It is necessary to ensure that the tubes have tight fitting caps as poor quality caps will hasten the process of curing however hard you try to prevent it. One way of avoiding this is to squeeze every bit of air out from the tube’s headspace and then put a waterproof plastic wrap around the tube’s nozzle prior to capping it. Good quality tubes equipped with close fitting caps will last for long times.

Store with silica packets

If you happen to have your adhesive with a low quality cap then store it in a sealed box made of plastic along with a few of silica packets. These packets can be obtained in shipping boxes containing leather or electronic stuff ordered online or otherwise. Ensure that you do not open the sealed box frequently.

Store in a refrigerator

The most dry and cool place for your adhesive is the refrigerator or a freezer. The superglue can be stored in an air-sealed bag, envelope or container as this will prevent condensation after it is taken out of the freezer. The bag with the stored adhesive has to come to room temperature before it can be used.

Water acts as a catalyst for hardening of the adhesive and the freezer offers a place which has very low moisture content. This ensures that the adhesive remains in good condition for long times to come.  

Do not change the container of your adhesive

Moving your adhesive from one container to the other will enhance the likelihood of its hardening as it comes into contact with air. The original packaging is best suited for the adhesive.

Cleaning the nozzle’s exterior is a must

It is essential that you clean the exterior part of the nozzle before you keep it away for reuse. This will ensure that the area remains clean and chances of lid getting stuck on are minimized.

On a Summarizing Note

Superglue tube or bottle has to be stored with care as otherwise its drying up will necessitate you to run to the local store for replacing it every now and then. Follow the above tips and increase the shelf life of your adhesive.