Epoxy pot life

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Epoxy pot life

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andy47	a andy47 posted 7 Years Ago HOT Topic Details
a Group: Forum Members Posts: 22, Visits: 95	I have a low viscosity epoxy + hardener with a 150-minute pot life. However, the epoxy that's mixed in a cup starts warming up in 30 minutes and hardens in one hour while producing a lot of heat. The epoxy that's infused in the part hardens in a few hours which is correct. This is not an issue for small projects where the epoxy is infused in less than an hour, but I am worried what if the infusion process takes longer. How do you deal with this issue - the epoxy warming up in the cup which results in a much shorter pot life than stated?
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	+x andy47 - 11/18/2017 3:25:44 PM I have a low viscosity epoxy + hardener with a 150-minute pot life. However, the epoxy that's mixed in a cup starts warming up in 30 minutes and hardens in one hour while producing a lot of heat. The epoxy that's infused in the part hardens in a few hours which is correct. This is not an issue for small projects where the epoxy is infused in less than an hour, but I am worried what if the infusion process takes longer. How do you deal with this issue - the epoxy warming up in the cup which results in a much shorter pot life than stated? The 150 minute pot-life will be for a given mass, usually 100g or 500g (it should specify on the data sheet). If you're mixing more than that then it will significantly shorten the pot-life, as you've experienced. The only real solution for doing large quantities is to mix several smaller batches. I never mix more than 1kg at once, but have the rest measured out and ready to mix as soon as the infusion starts.
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andy47	a andy47 posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
a Group: Forum Members Posts: 22, Visits: 95	+x Hanaldo - 11/18/2017 9:58:51 PM +x andy47 - 11/18/2017 3:25:44 PM I have a low viscosity epoxy + hardener with a 150-minute pot life. However, the epoxy that's mixed in a cup starts warming up in 30 minutes and hardens in one hour while producing a lot of heat. The epoxy that's infused in the part hardens in a few hours which is correct. This is not an issue for small projects where the epoxy is infused in less than an hour, but I am worried what if the infusion process takes longer. How do you deal with this issue - the epoxy warming up in the cup which results in a much shorter pot life than stated? The 150 minute pot-life will be for a given mass, usually 100g or 500g (it should specify on the data sheet). If you're mixing more than that then it will significantly shorten the pot-life, as you've experienced. The only real solution for doing large quantities is to mix several smaller batches. I never mix more than 1kg at once, but have the rest measured out and ready to mix as soon as the infusion starts. I have been thinking about this, but how do you change the cups during the infusion process? I am worried that if I pull the hose out of the cup, a bubble will get inside even if I close the clamp.
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Hanaldo	Hanaldo posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 2.5K, Visits: 28K	Yeh you don't change the cup, you mix the next batch and then pour it into the main pot. Gently so that you don't introduce bubbles or expose the feed line.
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andy47	a andy47 posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
a Group: Forum Members Posts: 22, Visits: 95	+x Hanaldo - 11/19/2017 11:16:29 PM Yeh you don't change the cup, you mix the next batch and then pour it into the main pot. Gently so that you don't introduce bubbles or expose the feed line. Good idea, thanks.
	Reply Like 3
MarkMK	MarkMK posted 7 Years Ago HOT Post Details
Group: Forum Members Posts: 338, Visits: 2K	A good idea to tilt your existing pot, as when pouring a beer, to limit the unwanted air introduced but be mindful of not exposing the feed line.
	Reply Like 3