Obviously we need to keep the temperature of both the epoxy itself and the project we are working on, as close to ideal as possible. As the temperature nears 0☌, the mixed epoxy may stop curing altogether. When working outside in the winter the liquid and gel periods will extend due to the low temperature and a cure may take many hours.
Trap crack open a cold one full#
In reality, the epoxy mix is 90% cured and will achieve full hardness over the next couple of days at room temperature. Now it can be shaped and sanded but won’t form a chemical link to any fresh epoxy – you’ll have to sand it to increase the surface area to create a key for a mechanical bond and/or hydrogen bonding instead. When used as a coating this ‘tackiness’ can be used to form a chemical bond with a fresh layer, making a stronger bond. You can still dent it with a fingernail but the mix is no longer workable although it will remain tacky for a while. The warmer it is, the quicker the liquid will enter the next phase. This is the time window you have to mix any additives and do any spreading or clamping.
This is when you have mixed the epoxy resin and hardener together and the result is a workable liquid. To understand why this happens we need to appreciate the three stages of a cure. Trying to mix epoxy in temperatures below 10☌ is a sure-fire way to end up with a much weaker result. The result is a rock-solid material that is tough and resilient…unless that cure is compromised in some way. As cold can compromise the strength of a cure, what can we do to speed up the process?Įpoxy resin is mixed with a compatible hardener in a precise ratio to start the curing process. It’s that time of year when we are keen to complete projects before the winter freeze sets in. There are projects that need finishing, but what do you do when epoxy and cold weather don’t get on too well. The frosty mornings and dark evenings are drawing near.
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