Catalyst

The catalyst is a substance that accelerates chemical reactions or directs them in one direction. They are used with certain adhesives to speed up the curing process.

The catalyst is colloquially compared to the activator, hardener or accelerator or also referred to as such.

With anaerobic adhesives, the metal ions from the parts to be joined serve as a catalyst. You allow the adhesive to harden at room temperature in the absence of atmospheric oxygen (anaerobic = exclusion of air).

This can be well illustrated with the example of screw locking. The thread of a metal screw is coated with adhesive and screwed into the metal screw nut. The adhesive is now in the metallic threads and no longer has contact with the ambient air. The chemical substance in the adhesive reacts to the metal ions in the screw and nut by cutting off the air supply and causes the adhesive to harden.