Underwater glue bonds in 10 seconds, holds 2kg for over 3 years

New adhesive bonds underwater within seconds and maintains strength for over three years under marine conditions.

A recyclable adhesive called BP16TPB bonds underwater within 10 seconds and maintains 1.1 megapascals of strength on ceramic after that time. It holds 2 kilograms underwater without failure for over three years, forming reliable bonds with ceramic, copper, epoxy resin, and polyamide in acidic, alkaline, and salty water. The adhesive operates via Marangoni flow to overcome water barriers and uses a supramolecular ionic liquid mixed with dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). It can be reused up to eight times without significant loss of adhesion performance.

BP16TPB’s mechanism eliminates drying time and water barriers that typically prevent underwater bonding. This directly addresses critical maintenance challenges for marine infrastructure where traditional adhesives fail due to water exposure.

For marine infrastructure repairs and maintenance, this adhesive reduces the need for time-consuming drying processes and specialized equipment that currently limit underwater repairs. By enabling rapid, durable bonds in harsh marine environments, it could lower costs for critical infrastructure like offshore platforms and underwater cables.

The adhesive remains non-commercial and degrades above 70°C. It was published in Nature Communications (2026) but requires further testing before practical application.

Source: Phys.org