What’s Epoxy?

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Epoxy is a strong adhesive made from petroleum products, commonly used for bonding metals, plastics, and woods. It provides protection against moisture and extreme temperatures. It can also be used in furniture construction and home repairs. It is mixed before use and can dry quickly.

Epoxy is best known as a durable type of glue that provides a high level of adhesion properties that are far superior to most common paste glues. Typically sold in a two-component package that requires mixing just before use, epoxy resin is used to securely bond many different types of metals, plastics, and woods.
Created to provide both adhesion powers and a tough layer of protection, the basic elements of epoxy resin are derived from petroleum products. One of the basic components usually polyepoxide is bisphenol-A, which helps provide some of the adhesion efficiency of the glue. Epichlorohydrin is another key element and helps provide the substance with a tough layer that is resistant to moisture, humidity and extreme hot and cold temperatures. The combination of the hard coat coupled with the strong bonding agents make this adhesive an ideal choice for use with metals that experience a lot of stress, such as aircraft hulls and the metal plating found on most ships.

Epoxy resin can also be used in the construction of wooden furniture. Not only does it work to secure sections of frames, but it can also be used as an ingredient in finishing paint to create a layer of protection that not only looks attractive, but helps preserve the integrity of the piece for many years. Similarly, glue is often used to repair fiber cuts in telephone networks, as it has the ability to bond the fiber cables together and create a seal on the polymer casing. It is often this combination of superior protection and the ability to restore the broken item to productive use that makes the product so attractive.

There are also many uses for epoxies in the home. As a hardener that will create a strong bond, it can be used to repair seams in antique picture frames, as well as to repair table legs that may have started to wobble with age. While versions marketed for home use are formulated differently than those for industrial use, the glue is still strong enough to handle most home repair jobs.

Epoxy resin is usually mixed just before it is used. Two separate chambers containing the necessary elements are combined, then applied to the broken piece. Some brands are formulated to dry quickly often within 30 minutes, while others create a firm bond in as little as six minutes.




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