A Guide to Epoxy Resin
Epoxy resin, a synthetic material, offers superior thermal, chemical, and mechanical properties, making it ideal for a wide range of industrial applications. Users apply it in liquid form, then mould or layer it over surfaces to create a protective coating. After curing, the material becomes durable and structurally stable. This combination of properties makes epoxy resin highly effective for applications such as industrial tooling, art projects, and automotive production.
The chemical compounds and polymerization processes that go into epoxy resin will affect its physical properties.
The following are some characteristics of epoxy resin formulas:
Strong Adhesive Bond
Thermal Resistance
Chemically Stable
Corrosion-Resistant
Electrical Insulation
Minimal Moisture Absorption
Excellent Flexural and Fatigue Properties
Minimal Shrinkage Post-Curing
Free Of VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
Users mix co-reactants or hardeners—packaged separately from the epoxy resin—with the resin during application. This mixture triggers a chemical reaction. Depending on the formulation, the resin may solidify quickly or slowly. The product instructions specify the correct epoxy-to-hardener ratio to ensure optimal strength and performance.
Some Uses for Epoxy Resins:
Epoxy resins serve a wide range of applications. They’re commonly used for quick repairs, sealing and filling wood or metal surfaces, and creating durable countertops and bar tops. Artists use them for jewellery, casting, and mould-making. In marine settings, epoxy resins play a key role in boat building and repairs. Their versatility makes them suitable for both industrial and creative projects.
Casting or Coating Epoxy Resins?
Manufacturers use unique but related compounds in casting and coating epoxy resins. Choosing between the two affects how the final product looks and performs.
Casting Epoxy Resin
Casting resin creates clear encasings and suspensions. Additionally, many people refer to it as deep pour resin or pouring plastic. Makers typically pour it into a mould and then cure it to maintain its shape. Furthermore, artists and crafters use casting resin to produce jewellery, sculptures, crafts, and memorabilia. Manufacturers also rely on it to create aggregate, moulded plastics, and electrical insulation. In addition, epoxy resin helps produce a wide range of items, including automotive parts, aerospace devices, and sports gear.
Coating Epoxy Resin
By contrast, coating resins live up to their name. Specifically, they coat materials such as metal, concrete, or wood to strengthen them, resist chipping, simplify cleaning, and protect against water and rust.
Casting epoxy resin differs from coating epoxy resin in several other notable ways besides application:
Casting resins have a thinner viscosity than coating resins and take longer to cure due to their thicker pours, which helps prevent shrinkage and heat build-up. Coating resins are typically stiffer and use a 1:1 mix ratio, while casting resins may vary, such as 2:1. Using the wrong type can cause issues—casting resin may run off surfaces, and coating resin poured into moulds may crack or yellow if applied too thickly. Choosing the right formula for your application ensures better results.
Epoxy Resin: What You Need to Know
Consider the following when choosing the most suitable epoxy resin:
Will the epoxy resin be used to suspend materials?
What mould or frame is needed to prevent dripping and hold the epoxy while it cures?
What is the thickness of the epoxy layer needed for this project?
What is the cure time for epoxy?
How hard should this material be to withstand wear and tear?
Do you intend to expose this material to high temperatures, water, chemicals, UV rays, or other potentially damaging elements?
What unique properties does the epoxy need to have?
What viscosity does the resin need to have?
Epoxy Resin Viscosity
Viscosity measures how easily a fluid flows and reflects its resistance to changes in shape or internal movement. In the context of epoxy resins, viscosity plays a crucial role; specifically, it determines how well the resin drips or spreads evenly and whether to pour, dip, or paint it onto a material. Moreover, it affects how deeply the epoxy penetrates the substrate and ultimately influences the physical properties it creates.
Low Viscosity Resin:
Low-viscosity epoxy resins flow easily; therefore, they are ideal for deep penetration and filling small gaps. Furthermore, their thin consistency helps the epoxy bond more effectively to the substrate and prevents air bubbles. As a result, you can use low-viscosity epoxy resin for potting, sealing, and encapsulation.
Advantages of Low Viscosity Epoxy Resins:
- Great for Beginners
- Long shelf life
- Resistant to mould
- Can be used on fine cracks
- Repair and Filling of Concrete Gravity Cracks
- Overlay of interior surfaces
- Repairs & Patching
- Fillers & Sealers
- Primer for industrial coatings
- Indoor and outdoor concrete slab crack repair
- Excellent adhesion
- Suitable for damp environments
- Highly penetrating for low surface tension
- Resistant to shrinkage
Moderate Viscosity Resins
A medium-viscosity epoxy has a thick consistency; as a result, it is less permeable and more durable than low-viscosity formulations. Additionally, it withstands moderate temperatures and frequently serves in filament winding, vacuum bagging, and tooling applications.
High Viscosity Resins
High-viscosity epoxy offers the most resilience and features a paste-like consistency. Consequently, it delivers excellent adhesion and resists both heat and shock. Therefore, this type of epoxy suits projects that demand extreme toughness and durability.
How to Use Epoxy Resin Safely?
When working with epoxy resin, always follow essential safety precautions.
First, wear gloves to protect your hands from resin and hardener liquids. Specifically, choose nitrile gloves, as they typically don’t react with your skin or the resin. If resin touches your skin, immediately use baby wipes to remove most of it, then wash the area with soap and water. Additionally, an exfoliant can help remove any remaining residue.
Next, wear safety goggles to shield your eyes.In the event that resin gets into your eyes, flush them with water for 15 minutes without rubbing, and then seek medical attention immediately.
To protect your clothing, wear a plastic apron or overalls, which make it easier to clean up any spills. Finally, ensure proper ventilation by opening windows or using an extractor fan. If ventilation is poor, wear a respirator to avoid inhaling fumes.
What is the Best Epoxy for River Tables?
There is an increasing demand for epoxy resin tables. Epoxy and wood can be combined to produce beautiful tables in all shapes and sizes. However, the process itself takes some practice. Depending on the table’s size, it takes over 10kg of resin or more to cast a tabletop of 5cm thickness.
The thickness of this layer is also critical. The casting resin must be specifically formulated for this application to provide such a thick layer after one pour.
The exothermic reaction caused by a commercially available, inexpensive resin can cause a lot of heat and damage to the wood and the surrounding area. For this reason, patience is a virtue, and several thin layers must be poured on top of each other, which must dry for several hours to work.
The following properties are particularly relevant to epoxy resin tables:
A layer height of up to 5cm should be achievable, and the resin must be processable in large quantities without overheating
We recommend a longer pot life to allow air bubbles to escape more efficiently as well as UV protection to prevent yellowing.
Suitable for resin river tables, penny floors and bar tops, TriCast Epoxy Clear Cast Resin is an advanced, hard-wearing resin. The resin is fast curing and leaves a tack-free finish, and it doesn’t require any additional sanding or compounding once it has cured.
Multiply the height (in metres) by the width (in metres) by the depth (in millimetres) to determine the volume of resin needed.
For example, to cover a table, 1-meter-high x 2 meters wide x 5 mm deep = 10litres/kg resin.