I’ve been using Glasscast 3 for quite a while now with no problems at all, but today I did something wrong but not sure what. I sometimes warm the resin in water if I want it to be more fluid, today I may have left it to warm for too long. Would this cause the resin to cure too quickly and get hot? The pour looks ok at the moment, but will it cure properly?

Hi Val, raising the starting temperature of the epoxy makes it much more reactive and therefore liable to a thermal runaway. In effect, the resin generates heat whilst it cures and in normal circumstances is able to cool itself sufficiently to prevent problems. However, if it is cast in too thick a section; left standing in its mixed state for too long in the mixing pot before being poured; poured in a very warm environment or if it is too warm in the first instance, then it can begin to self-heat, getting hotter and hotter and easily reaching temperatures exceeding 100'C; at which point it will distort, crack and yellow in the very worst circumstances.

To avoid this, I would limit the resin temp. to no more than 30'C and ensure you work quickly to get it mixed and on your part.

I hope this helps

+x

 

Rich (Staff) - 4/8/2019 4:35:08 PM

Hi Val, raising the starting temperature of the epoxy makes it much more reactive and therefore liable to a thermal runaway. In effect, the resin generates heat whilst it cures and in normal circumstances is able to cool itself sufficiently to prevent problems. However, if it is cast in too thick a section; left standing in its mixed state for too long in the mixing pot before being poured; poured in a very warm environment or if it is too warm in the first instance, then it can begin to self-heat, getting hotter and hotter and easily reaching temperatures exceeding 100'C; at which point it will distort, crack and yellow in the very worst circumstances.

To avoid this, I would limit the resin temp. to no more than 30'C and ensure you work quickly to get it mixed and on your part.

I hope this helps