Applicators for dispensing adhesive or sealant material

1. An applicator, comprising:

an adhesive comprising a cyanoacrylate monomer, a free radical stabilizer in an amount of about 2000 ppm to about 8000 ppm, an anionic stabilizer in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm, optionally a polymerization accelerator, and optionally a plasticizing agent,

a body comprising a porous applicator tip, a cutter for breaking a frangible seal on a container containing the adhesive, a channel through which the adhesive flows toward the porous applicator tip, a chamber for housing the container, the chamber in fluid communication with the channel, and a flexible grip for controlling the flow rate of the adhesive through the channel, and

a container comprising an acrylonitrile copolymer or a multi-layer sheet with an acrylonitrile copolymer as the inner-most layer of the sheet, and comprising a frangible seal on one end, thereby containing the adhesive within the container, the container inserted into and being movable within the chamber of the body,

wherein at least the container is sterilized by irradiation, and the adhesive contained within the container does not cure upon irradiation and for at least twelve months of shelf storage thereafter.

2. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the acrylonitrile copolymer comprises acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate.

3. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the irradiation comprises electron beam, gamma, or X-ray irradiation.

4. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the adhesive contained within the container does not cure for at least 24 months of shelf storage after irradiation.

5. The applicator according to claim 1 , wherein the cyanoacrylate monomer is selected from the group consisting of 2-octylcyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, a mixture of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and n-butyl cyanoacrylate, and methoxyisopropyl cyanoacrylate.

6. An applicator, comprising:

an adhesive comprising a cyanoacrylate monomer, a free radical stabilizer in an amount of about 2000 ppm to about 8000 ppm, an anionic stabilizer in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm, optionally a polymerization accelerator, and optionally a plasticizing agent,

a body comprising a porous applicator tip, a cutter having an opening on each end and a channel between each opening and through the cutter, through which the adhesive flows into a reservoir, the reservoir in fluid communication with the channel and the porous applicator tip, and a flexible grasping portion for controlling the flow rate of the adhesive through the reservoir,

a container comprising an acrylonitrile copolymer or a multi-layer sheet with an acrylonitrile copolymer as the inner-most layer of the sheet, and comprising a frangible seal on one end, thereby containing the adhesive within the container, the container inserted into and being movable within the reservoir of the body;

and

a container mount, onto which the container is attached via the end of the container that does not comprise the frangible seal,

wherein at least the container is sterilized by irradiation, and the adhesive contained within the container does not cure upon irradiation and for at least twelve months of shelf storage thereafter.

7. The applicator according to claim 6 , wherein the acrylonitrile copolymer comprises acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate.

8. The applicator according to claim 6 , wherein the the irradiation comprises electron beam, gamma or X-ray irradiation.

9. The applicator according to claim 6 , wherein the adhesive contained within the container does not cure for at least 24 months of shelf storage after irradiation.

10. The applicator according to claim 6 , wherein the applicator tip comprises a fibrous swab, a sponge, a foam tip, or a brush.

11. The applicator according to claim 6 , wherein the cyanoacrylate monomer is selected from the group consisting of 2-octylcyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, a mixture of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and n-butyl cyanoacrylate, and methoxyisopropyl cyanoacrylate.

12. An applicator, comprising:

an adhesive comprising a cyanoacrylate monomer, a free radical stabilizer in an amount of about 2000 ppm to about 8000 ppm, an anionic stabilizer in an amount of about 10 ppm to about 200 ppm, optionally a polymerization accelerator, and optionally a plasticizing agent,

a body comprising an applicator tip selected from the group consisting of a fibrous swab, a sponge swab, foam, and a brush, a container comprising an acrylonitrile copolymer or a multi-layer sheet with an acrylonitrile copolymer as the inner-most layer of the sheet, and comprising a seal on the back end of the container for sealing the adhesive within the container, an air space reducer between the adhesive and the back end seal, and a grasping portion for controlling the flow rate of the adhesive through the body; and

a removable cap covering the applicator tip, wherein the applicator is sterilized by irradiation, and the adhesive contained within the container does not cure upon irradiation and for at least twelve months of shelf storage thereafter.

13. The applicator according to claim 12 , wherein the acrylonitrile copolymer comprises acrylonitrile and methyl acrylate.

14. The applicator according to claim 12 , wherein the irradiation comprises electron beam, gamma, or X-ray irradiation.

15. The applicator according to claim 12 , wherein the adhesive contained within the container does not cure for at least 24 months of shelf storage after irradiation.

16. The applicator according to claim 1 further comprising a finger stopper.

17. The applicator according to claim 12 , wherein the cyanoacrylate monomer is selected from the group consisting of 2-octylcyanoacrylate, n-butyl cyanoacrylate, a mixture of 2-octyl cyanoacrylate and n-butyl cyanoacrylate, and methoxyisopropyl cyanoacrylate.