Activator
Activator turns up in 2 fields: adhesives, mining. Here is what it means to the people in each one.
Activator in adhesives
A liquid applied to one surface to speed or start the cure of an adhesive placed on the other.
Activators are used with anaerobics on inactive metals such as stainless, plated or anodized parts, with cyanoacrylates to cure excess adhesive or bridge gaps, and with some acrylics as a no-mix second component. They are usually solvent solutions sprayed or wiped on and allowed to flash off. Too much activator can weaken the bond or leave a brittle, white crust.
"Stainless fittings, so hit the threads with activator first or that anaerobic will never cure."
Activator in mining
A chemical reagent added to an ore slurry to promote the flotation of specific minerals.
In froth flotation, an activator is a chemical compound that alters the surface of a target mineral so it can attach to collector molecules. This allows the mineral to become hydrophobic and float to the surface in the froth layer. Metallurgists use activators when the natural surface chemistry of an ore particle repels standard collectors, making it impossible to recover without chemical intervention.
"We need to increase the copper sulfate activator in the rougher circuit to get better zinc recovery."