UNDERSTANDING

EPOXY

JANUARY 2000

Table of Contents
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
Chemistry .............................................................................................................................................................. 2-4
Industrial Formulators Epoxies ................................................................................................................. 4-5
Safety and Handling ............................................................................................................................................ 5
Measuring and Mixing Epoxy Systems ................................................................................................. 6-7
Techniques of Epoxy Use .............................................................................................................................. 7-8
Coating with Epoxy Resin ............................................................................................................................ 8-9
Fiberglassing with Epoxy Resin ............................................................................................................. 9-11
Using Fillers with Epoxy Resins .......................................................................................................... 12-13
Epoxy Resins as Strustural Adhesives ............................................................................................. 13-14
Filleting, Fairing and Molding with Epoxy Resins ..................................................................... 15-16
Painting and Finishing ............................................................................................................................. 16-17
Troubleshooting ................................................................................................................................................... 17

Introduction

about the use of these products as outlined

in this booklet is a distillation of the knowledge we have gained over the years. This is
to help you, the user, to be in charge. Your
responsibility is to make sure that all the
products you use, including ours, are used
properly. The section on chemistry may
seem a bit of a mystery to some of you, but
a rudimentary understanding will help you
complete your tasks more efficiently.

When you begin to work with epoxy resins,

its always useful to know a little of their
history. The dictionary defines epoxy as
heat setting resin made by the chemical
bonding of smaller molecules into larger
ones.
While that may be over simplifying things a
little, in all epoxies, that is basically what is
happening. What becomes complicated is
the thousands of variations that make each
chemical compound used in the manufacture
of epoxy resin formulations specifically
different to perform the job it was designed
to do.

Youll find here sections on basic chemistry

and safety regarding all epoxies. Proper
measuring and mixing techniques are next.
And we finish with a useful section on
troubleshooting.

Chemistry

Scientists have been aware of epoxy resins

for many years but the first commercial
exploration of their properties was undertaken
in the 1930s. This was in Germany by the
firm of I.G. Farben Industries. However, it
was not until the 1950s that use of the
compounds in a commercial way was
introduced in North America. At about this
time the founder of Industrial Formulators,
Jim Peters B.Sc., began experimenting with
them and over the years became one of the
leading formulators in the world.

A thorough knowledge of epoxy resin

chemistry is not necessary before you start,
but having a basic chemical knowledge
will help you complete your project more
effectively.
The resin that is the basis for most of our
epoxy formulations is the diglycidol ether
of bisphenol A (DGEBA). Bisphenol A is
produced by reacting phenol with acetone
under suitable conditions. Bis means two,
phenyl means phenol groups and the A
stands for acetone. Thus, bisphenol A is the
chemical product made from chemically
combining two phenols with one acetone.
Unreacted acetone and phenol are stripped
from the bisphenol A which is then reacted
with a material called epichlorohydrin. This
reaction sticks the two (di) glycidyl groups
on ends of the bisphenol A molecule. The
resultant product is the diglycidyl ether of
bisphenyl A, or the basic epoxy resin. It is
these glycidyl groups that react with the
amine hydrogen atoms on hardeners to
produce the cured epoxy resin.

Epoxies are among the thermoset family

of resins, along with polyester, silicones,
urethanes, melamines, acrylics and phenolics.
Once curing of epoxies has taken place
they cannot be melted by heat. This makes
epoxies the opposite of such other plastics
(thermoplastics) like polyethylene, vinyl,
polypropylene, etc., which can be melted
and solidified over and over again.
Industrial Formulators, Inc. supplies epoxies
for industries such as construction, electronics,
marine, automotive, sporting goods and
hobbies. Our epoxy formulations have been
used to solve problems and are used regularly
in pulp mills, submarines, dams, museums,
railroads and research labs along with more
standard uses like boat building and electrical
potting. We are experimenting with new
uses for epoxy resins all the time.

Basic epoxy resin is very viscous and

unsuitable for use except as a thick glue
for specialized applications. At Industrial
Formulators Inc., we purchase the material
in this basic form, then modify it using
formulae developed by us. The result is
the various epoxy resin systems we offer.

Our responsibility is to provide quality

products to our customers. The information

Hardeners used with room temperature

cured epoxy resins are most commonly
polyamines. That is, they are organic
molecules containing two or more amine
groups. Amine groups are not unlike ammonia
in structure except that they are attached to
organic molecules. Like ammonia, amines
are strongly alkaline. Because of this similarity,
epoxy resin hardeners often have an ammonialike odor, most notable in the dead air space
in containers right after they are opened.
Once in the open this odor is difficult to
detect because of the low vapor pressure
of the polyamines.

that can accommodate one, or by changing

the temperature and mass of the resin/
hardener mix.
The epoxy curing reaction is exothermic.
This means that it gives off heat as it cures.
The rate at which the epoxy resin cures is
dependent upon the curing temperature.
The warmer it is the faster it goes. The curing
rate will vary by about half or double with
each 10C (18F) change in temperature.
For example, if an epoxy system takes 3 hours
to become tack free at 21C (70F), it will be
tack free in 1.5 hours at 31C (88F) or tack
free in 6 hours at 11C (52F). Everything to
do with the speed of the reaction follows this
general rule. Pot life and working time are
greatly influenced by the initial temperature
of the mixed resin and hardener.

Reactive amine groups are nitrogen atoms

with one or two hydrogen atoms attached
to the nitrogen. These hydrogen atoms react
with oxygen atoms from glycidol groups on
the epoxy to form the cured resin - a highly
crosslinked thermoset plastic. Heat will
soften, but not melt a cured epoxy. The
three-dimensional structure gives the
cured resin excellent physical properties.

The gel time of the resin is the time it takes

for a given mass held in a compact volume
to solidify. Gel time depends on the initial
temperature of the mass and follows the
above rule. Cure time is surface area/mass
sensitive in addition to being temperature
sensitive.

The ratio of the glycidol oxygens to the

amine hydrogens, taking into account the
various molecular weights and densities
involved, determines the final resin to
hardener ratio. Varying the recommended
ratio will leave either unreacted oxygen or
hydrogen atoms depending upon which
side is in excess. The resultant cured resin
will have lower strength, as it is not as
completely crosslinked.

Whats happening is this: as the reaction

proceeds it gives off heat. If the heat generated
is immediately dissipated to the environment
(as occurs in thin films) the temperature of
the curing resin does not rise and the
reaction speed proceeds at a uniform pace.
If the resin is confined (as in a mixing pot)
the exothermic reaction raises the temperature
of the mixture, accelerating the reaction.

Epoxy hardeners are not catalysts. Catalysts

promote reactions but do not chemically
become a part of the finished product. Epoxy
hardeners mate with the epoxy resin, greatly
contributing to the ultimate properties of the
cured system.

Working time is about 75% of the gel time

for the size and shape of the pot. It can be
lengthened by increasing the surface area
or working with a smaller batch. Material
left in the pot will increase in absolute
viscosity measured at 24C (75F), for
example, due to polymerization but initially
decrease in apparent viscosity due to
heating. Material left in the pot to 75% of gel
time may appear quite thin (due to heating)
but will actually be quite thick when cooled
to room temperature. Thick, partially cured
epoxy is not as effective in wetting out
fiberglass cloth and bonding surfaces.
Experienced users either mix batches that

Cure time of an epoxy system is dependent

upon the reactivity of the amine hydrogen
atoms. While the attached organic molecule
takes no direct part in the chemical reaction,
it does influence how readily the amine
hydrogen atoms leave the nitrogen and react
with the glycidol oxygen atom. Thus, cure
time is set by the kinetics of the particular
amine used in the hardener. Cure time can
be altered only by selecting a different
hardener, adding an accelerator in systems

will be applied almost immediately or

increase the surface area to slow the reaction,
thus increasing working time.

exposure will induce chalking and eventually

the epoxy will disintegrate, losing its
mechanical properties. The solution to
this problem is to protect the epoxy coating
with paint or with a varnish which contains
an ultraviolet light shield.

Although the cure rate of an epoxy is

dependent upon temperature, the curing
mechanism is independent of temperature.
The reaction proceeds most quickly in the
liquid state. As the cure proceeds the system
changes from a liquid to a sticky viscous soft
gel. After gelation the reaction speed slows
down as hardness increases. Chemical
reactions proceed more slowly in the solid
state. From the soft sticky gel the system
gets harder, slowly losing its stickiness.
It becomes tack free and continues to
become harder and stronger as time passes.

Caution must be observed when using

epoxy resins along with polyester resins.
Observe the general rule that epoxy resins
may be applied over cured polyesters that
have been dewaxed and well-sanded but
polyesters should never be used over cured
epoxy resins. Unreacted amine in the epoxy
inhibits the peroxide catalyst in the polyester
causing an incomplete cure at the interface.
Sanding does not get rid of the unreacted
amine. The result is a poor bond even
though the surface appears cured.
Debonding will be the inevitable result.

At normal temperatures the system will

reach about 60 to 80% of ultimate strength
after 24 hours. Curing then proceeds slowly
over the next several weeks, finally reaching
a point where no further curing will occur
without a significant increase in temperature.
However, for most purposes, room temperature
cured systems can be considered fully cured
after 72 hours at 25C (77F).

Industrial Formulators
Epoxies

A surface film may form in some epoxy systems

during the curing process. Technically, this
surface film is an amine carbamate that can
form in the presence of carbon dioxide and
water vapor. More appears on cool damp
days than on warm sunny days. This film
is water-soluble and should be removed
with soap and water before sanding and
re-coating or painting. This occurs mainly
when using 51-Cure or Cold Cure with
Jet Cure Hardener. All epoxies should be
sanded lightly but thoroughly before
recoating, or recoated within 72 hours.

Industrial Formulators epoxies are formulated systems, meaning that we start with
basic epoxy resins manufactured by large
chemical companies and modify them to
make them suitable for the required end use.
In the first modification (for most products)
we reduce the viscosity by the addition of
diluents or low viscosity solvents, which are
also epoxies. This makes an epoxy system
thin enough
to wet fiberglass cloth, coat
wood and bind various fillers to produce gap
filling glues and putties. Because the
diluents we use are also epoxies, they are
called reactive diluents, reacting with the
amines the same way the basic resin reacts,
becoming a
part of the cured
system. Other materials protect against long
term embrittlement
and improve resiliency and impact resistance.
Finally, trace materials designed to lower
surface tension, promote substrate
wet
out, reduce cratering and fisheye formation, aid in breaking bubbles and detraining
air are used to produce the finished product.

Unprotected exterior epoxy resin coatings

are not ultimately sunlight resistant. After
about six months of exposure to intense
sunlight they begin to degrade. Additional

These modifications are what make our epoxy

systems unique and different from others.
We develop the chemical formulations for our
epoxy resins and hardeners. To ensure our

It is usually more efficient to work with as

fast a cure time as practical for the application
at hand. This allows the builder to get along
to the next phase without wasting time
waiting for epoxy to cure. Faster curing films
with shorter tack times will have less chance
to pick up fly tracks, bugs, and other airborne
contaminants.

Keep Epoxy Resins and Hardeners off your skin

Wear disposable gloves or barrier skin creams
(available from Industrial Formulators Inc.)
when working with epoxy resins. Never use
solvents to remove epoxies from your skin.
Solvents, in addition to having problems that
are as bad or worse than epoxies, can help
drive the hazardous ingredients into your
body. If accidental contact occurs, use a
good handsoap and lots of water and paper
towels to remove epoxy from your skin.
Then apply a good medicated skin cream
to replace the natural oils removed by the
handsoap. Using a solvent to remove
partially cured epoxy from your body is
not an acceptable alternative.

desired level of quality, all of our epoxy

products are produced in our manufacturing
facility. Every batch gets tested for both gel
time and thin film set time. Nothing is
shipped to a customer that does not meet
our high standards. Everything we ship
cures if properly measured and thoroughly
mixed.
The diverse background of our staff gives
us the unique advantage of knowing and
applying epoxy technology far better than
others in the business. The development,
manufacture, and distribution of Industrial
Formulators products is our only business,
and our staff takes pride in being personally
available to all of our customers.

If a rash develops when working with

epoxies you should stop until it clears up.
If the rash is bad or persists see a doctor.
Take him a copy of this book and have him
contact us if he needs additional information.
Dont continue to work with epoxy if you
break out every time you get near it. This
is your bodys way of telling you to cool it.
Pay attention.

The dominant factor in the design, development, and evolution of Industrial Formulators
products has been this:

An Epoxy System should adapt to the conditions of

the user - Not the other way around.

Safety and Handling

Working cleanly and keeping epoxy off you

are the keystones of epoxy safety. Work in a
throwaway mode. Dont try to clean brushes
with solvent - toss them out. Tools like putty
knives can be wiped with a paper towel then
sanded clean after the epoxy cures. Cured
epoxy doesnt stick to polyethylene or wax
paper. Gloves, disposable brushes, and one
time use roller covers are expendable. Your
health is not. Think of gloves and dust masks
as another part of the cost of the project,
being prepared to spend some money on
these items designed to help protect you.
We like the inexpensive disposable gloves
as opposed to heavier, more permanent
gloves. The problem with the heavier gloves
is that they eventually become contaminated
with uncured resin or hardener on the inside
long before they wear out. The very thing
that you started using to protect you is now a
source of contamination. Disposable gloves
wear out about the time they become dirty
and are replaced.

We select our resin and hardener raw

materials with the health and safety of our
customers in mind. However, it is not
possible to make a hazard-free epoxy resin
system. As with all chemical products, they
must be handled properly to minimize
health risks. Material Safety Data Sheets
(MSDS) are available upon request for
all of our products.
The primary hazard when working with an
epoxy system is skin irritation leading to
possible skin sensitization from prolonged
and repeated direct skin contact. Most
people who become sensitized are unable
to continue working with epoxies without
breaking out in a rash commonly on the
inside of the forearms and on the forehead
above the eyebrows. The effect appears to be
cumulative. That is, you might be able to get
away with getting epoxy on your skin for
awhile but sooner or later it can catch up to
you and you will be sensitized. We would
like to emphasize that these products can
be used safely for a lifetime if handled
properly.

The vapor pressure of epoxy resins and

hardeners is so low that vapors rarely cause
problems, unless you have already become
sensitized. Well-cured resin should cause no
problem, as it is largely inert.

Develop a measuring technique that is

sufficiently accurate and then stay with it.
Doing it the same way each time will minimize
the chance for error. In the interest of simplification the following discussion assumes a
2:1 volume ratio. Refer to our catalog for
specific product mix ratios.

Whenever sanding or creating any kind of

dust wear a mask along with safety glasses
and gloves to keep the dust out of your
lungs. If you sand fiberglass and allow the
dust to get on your skin you will probably get
an itch from the glass fibers. Shower in cool
water to wash the fibers off you. The itch
usually goes away after 24 hours.

If you are using some type of graduated cup

or a straight-sided can, get in the habit of
measuring the same way each time. If you
pour the resin first, then always pour the
resin first. Before you add the hardener,
notice how much resin is already in the
container, divide this by two (for a 2:1
system) and then add hardener to bring
the total to the correct mark. Measuring in
the same order each time will avoid the
common error of two parts of hardener to
one part of resin.

Epoxy resins and hardeners have a low

flammability risk generally burning only if
exposed to a high heat source. BUT, the
solvents found in S-1 and Titanium are
flammable, and vapors can even be explosive
in the right concentration. Be smart and
avoid any possible source of ignition when
using solvents.

Using a vertically held stir stick marked in a

two to one ratio will only work for vertical
sided containers. Dont use this method on
containers with sloping sides.

Most people never develop health problems

working with epoxy resins. If we scared you
a little then its our hope that youll work with
these materials a little smarter and cleaner
than you might have otherwise.

If you use the two measures/one measure

method and mix in a separate pot, be sure
to scrape the sides each time you pour from
your measuring cups to the mixing pot.

Measuring and Mixing

Epoxy Systems

Make sure the graduations on disposable

cups look right. Some paper cups are not
rolled correctly when made the first
graduation sometimes is too high or too low.
We cant inspect each cup to make sure it
was properly made this is your job.

Measuring and mixing is really easy because

most of our epoxy systems mix at a 1:1 or
2:1 volume ratio. This doesnt mean you
dont have to pay attention to what youre
doing. Occasionally a customer will call
suggesting that something is wrong with
the epoxy because it didnt cure properly.
We know of no situation where the resin/
hardener has gone bad or has been
contaminated and wouldnt cure. It always
resolves that the batch was either improperly
measured or insufficiently mixed in the
users shop. Epoxy chemistry just will not
allow it to work any other way.

For small batches less than 90 ml (3 oz.)

use the syringes or accumeasure kit.
Industrial Formulators Inc. offers one
mechanical pump for those who desire
the convenience that is devices provides.
These pumps are the kind that you find at
the ballpark and use to get mustard out of
the jar to put on your hot dog. Complete
instructions come with each plunger pump
kit. We recommend using the pumps to
dispense, not measure. Pump into a graduated
mixing cup or tub to be double sure of an
accurate measure.

Measuring errors are insidious and can pop

up when you least expect them. These errors
usually occur because you changed your
technique, were in a hurry, had someone
else mix a batch, or were just not careful.

Be aware that any mechanical device can

go haywire, lying to you with a straight face.
Valves can stick causing backflow into the
reservoirs. Cool temperatures can cause the
viscosity to change. The rate or speed that
you pump can alter delivery volumes.

Techniques of Epoxy Use

Four epoxy application techniques are
commonly used. These are coating,
fiberglassing, gluing and filleting/fairing.
Furthermore, the techniques are pretty much
the same whether they are involved in wood
or fiberglass construction and repair. After
all, coating with epoxy involves the same
technique and tools regardless of whether
the substrate is wood, fiberglass, or something else.

Epoxy systems can be measured by weight

as well as volume. The correct ratios vary so
if you plan to mix by weight give our technical
support line a call. Dont make the mistake of
using the volume ratio when measuring by
weight. The hardener is less dense than the
resin youll use too much hardener and get
an incomplete cure.

What might seem to be other techniques are

usually just variations or combinations of the
above. Many of our epoxy users discover
new variations. We will discuss a number
of these variations and the tricks that will
make the epoxy work go easier and faster.
We dont know everything and are constantly
learning something new. We invite you to
learn along with us.

Large batches (a litre or more) are most

efficiently measured by weight. A postal
scale is usually accurate enough for the
larger batches. An OHaus triple beam
balance will allow for the accurate weighing
of batches from as little as a few grams to
over 2.5 kilograms.

If you come up with a variation that we dont

mention, model it first to see if it will work.
Do this prior to using the whole project as a
test. For example, we are often asked if Cold
Cure epoxy will stick to stained wood. Most
of the time it will if stain used is water or
alcohol based. However, the only way to be
really sure is to conduct your own little test.

With the resin and hardener accurately

measured, mix thoroughly. Stir well, scraping
the container sides, and mix from the bottom
to the top. Keep stirring until that mixture is
no longer hazy. Dont worry about a few air
bubbles. Thats normal. Scrape the mixing
stick several times on the side of the container
Dont make large batches. Keep in mind that
large batches take longer to mix, have a
much shorter pot life, and if you get side
tracked cost more when they gel in the pot.
Epoxy paperweights are expensive.

Suppose that you are staining a piece of fir

that will later be coated with epoxy and have
another piece laminated to it. First, stain a
scrap piece of the same wood; allow it to dry
well (several days). Laminate on two pieces
of 3 or 4 inch wide fiberglass tape about
fifteen cm long. Leave a tail that can be
grasped later with a pair of pliers by running
the tape about half way up on a plastic
squeegee. Let the epoxy cure a day or two.
Remove the squeegee and grab the tail with
the pliers. Try to peel the tape off the substrate.
If the tape tears where the tail starts leaving
the balance of the tape bonded to the surface,
then the bond is good. If the whole thing
pops off intact then the bond is bad and the
stain is interfering with the bond strength.
Better find a new stain and repeat the test.

If you measured or mixed incorrectly and

a batch doesnt properly cure about the
only thing to do is scrape it off and start over.
A hot air gun will help to soften the partially
cured material. Then try removing any
residual with acetone, MEK, or lacquer
thinner (but not with the hot air gun or
source of ignition around). Wear solvent
resistant gloves and have plenty of ventilation when doing this. Then examine your
technique to find out what went wrong.

This same procedure can be modified to test

the ability of the epoxy to bond exotic woods.
If the failure occurs in the wood when two

pieces are glued rather than in the glue line

then it is safe to assume that the epoxy
works on that kind of wood.

pull away from the surface creating craters.

Overheating will also cause the expansion of
any air in the pores of the wood and may
result in an epoxy coating full of bubbles.

In order to simplify the following discussion

of the four main areas of use for our epoxy
systems we are going to confine the discussion to using Cold Cure epoxy with plywood,
a common building material. Where appropriate we will mention the use of our other
epoxy systems. The sections following this
will discuss modifications of the four techniques for specific areas of building and
repairing fiberglass structures. We feel that if
you can understand and use the following
techniques then you will be able to skillfully
do most kinds of epoxy work.

Sometimes a coating will try to crater. This

is most common with coatings that are too
thin, recoated surfaces that have not been
thoroughly sanded or on contaminated
surfaces but may happen on other surfaces
as well. While the cause of cratering is quite
complex, the solution is pretty simple.
Immediately after coating a surface look at
it from an angle, sweeping your eyes over
the whole surface. Craters will usually form
within ten minutes after first applying the
coating. If cratering occurs, take the heel of
the foam roller and really grind it in the area
that has cratered. This wets out the dry spots
in the crater center. Then, re-roll the area
treated to even out the coating.

Coating with Epoxy Resin

Whenever possible it is best to do coating
operations on the bench. If the part is too
large or cumbersome to place on the bench,
then whenever possible arrange your work
so that it is horizontal. When working flat
youre not fighting gravity and the coated
panel is easily sanded on the bench using a
disc sander and foam pad. Coating a sheet
of fir plywood will illustrate this method.

Cold Cure epoxy will bond and cure in thin

coatings in cold, damp conditions without
any special tricks, but giving it an induction
period will help speed things along. After
mixing the resin and hardener allow the mix
to sit in the pot for 15 to 20 minutes. Then
apply it in the usual manner. The use of a hot
air gun will help level a cold epoxy coating
but it is not necessary to aid in the cure.

Mix the resin and hardener in the correct

ratio. Pour this mix on the plywood in a
stream of S curves starting at one end and
finishing at the other, making four or five
curves along the length. Spread the epoxy
back and forth with a squeegee into the dry
areas, trying to get as even a coating as
possible without being too fussy. Use a dry
foam roller to even out the coating. When
this first coat is cured to at least a soft set
tack free stage it can be recoated.

After 24 to 48 hours (depending upon

temperature and hardener used) the coating
will be cured enough to sand. First wipe the
surface with a damp sponge to remove any
water soluble amine carbamate surface film
prior to sanding (for Jet Cure or 51-Cure
only). At this stage of cure the epoxy coating
can usually be sanded with a disc sander
and a big foam pad starting with 60 grit
paper. Disk sanding can generate quite a bit
of heat, especially when the sandpaper gets
dull or clogged, causing gumming of the
sanding disk. Keep the sander moving and
apply only light pressure. This keeps the
heat down. If clogging still happens youll
have to either hand sand, scrape as described
below, wet sand or allow another day for the
cure to proceed.

Use at least two coats for interior wood and

three in areas that may be constantly wet.
Several tricks can be used to improve the
appearance of the finished film. Bubbles that
persist in the coating can be broken with a
foam brush by lightly dragging it across the
surface. Fanning the uncured surface with a
hot air gun or hair dryer will accomplish this
with greater speed. Avoid overheating an
area as this could cause the epoxy film to

Scraping is an alternative to sanding that

actually produces a better finish. This shaves
off a thin film of epoxy leaving a surface that
looks like it was sanded with 600 grit paper.

Small parts can be scraped using a single

edged razor held vertically. Several companies
make wood scrapers for working on larger
surfaces. Keep them sharp and be careful
not to cut yourself.

more coats of varnish and is much more

durable. Revarnishing is much easier
because the old varnish is just removed
down to the epoxy coating.
Epoxy coatings should be sanded before
varnishing or painting. These materials stick
to the epoxy by mechanical means and must
have some tooth in order to bond well.

Sanding dust should be removed by blowing

or brushing it off prior to recoating. The final
bit may be removed with a damp rag. Dont
use acetone, or other solvents. Tack rags may
leave an unbondable surface coating on the
sanded epoxy surface.

Fiberglassing with
Epoxy Resin

Some amine cured epoxy surfaces are

quite alkaline and can react with any acidic
material such as moist carbon dioxide or
silicates. Further epoxy coats may not bond
well to some of these reaction products.
Sanding, in addition to providing some
tooth for mechanical bonding, also cleans
since it exposes new, uncontaminated
surface. If in doubt, sand.

Exterior surfaces usually use fiberglass or

other woven cloth material as a reinforcement,
or substrate, allowing a thicker, stronger
epoxy coating which results in higher
abrasion, impact and moisture resistance.
In the case of most wood composite structures,
the purpose of this reinforcing cloth is to
strengthen the epoxy coating, not to reinforce
the part.

Try to work at a constant or falling temperature

when coating. When the temperature is
rising, air trapped beneath the uncured
epoxy may expand and cause small bubbles
to form in the coating. Avoid working in
direct sunlight for this reason. If you must
work in sunlight, do your coating as the sun
is going down. The surface will be cooling
and air bubbles should not form. Evening
dew condensation does not harm the
partially cured Cold Cure epoxy coating.

Cold Cure epoxy is a much better choice

over wood than polyester resin. Polyester
is a poor adhesive because it shrinks and
delaminates then it lets moisture get between
the fiberglass and the wood substrates.
Because the fiberglass is structural to the
epoxy coating rather than the part, its
possible to use a lightweight cloth. Dont use
a cloth a that is too heavy for the intended
service, youll use a lot more epoxy and have
a heavier part, gaining little else. Tests run
with Cold Cure epoxy show no appreciable
difference in peel strength between the two
most popular finishes of fiberglass cloth,
Volan and Silane. Four and six ounce cloth
are nearly invisible when wet out with clear
epoxy resin. Heavier weight cloths begin to
show the weave pattern under certain
lighting conditions.

Some very porous materials are quite

persistent at forming air bubbles. A trick we
have used is to heat the whole surface to a
temperature about 60C (140F). Use a hot
air gun or place the wood in the sunlight for
awhile. Stop heating and immediately coat
the surface. The epoxy will thin on the warm
surface and at the same time start to cool it.
The air in small pores will begin to contract
pulling the thinned epoxy into them. Any air
that does rise will be going through thinned
epoxy and have an easier time of it.

Avoid using fiberglass mat with epoxy resins.

The binder that holds the mat together is
designed to be dissolved by the styrene in
polyester resins. Most epoxies dont use
styrene as a diluent, making it almost impossible to wet out the mat. Woven roving is wet
out well by epoxy although we know of no
reason to use it when building a wooden boat.

Cold Cure is an excellent base for varnish.

The application of multiple coats of varnish
and sanding between coats can be eliminated
with NO sanding between coats. The final
epoxy coat is sanded to provide a base, then
one or two coats of varnish are applied. The
result appears to have the depth of ten or

Regardless of the type of the cloth or resin

system used, fiberglassing is done essentially the same way. There is no need to be
intimidated by fiberglassing, what you are
really doing is gluing the cloth to the surface
with a minimum amount of resin. Use just
enough epoxy to wet out the cloth, youll fill
the weave of the cloth later with more epoxy.

When this first area has been covered and

the cloth has disappeared, take the squeegee
and use a fair amount of pressure to squeeze
the excess resin away from the wet cloth,
working it down into the dry cloth area.
This removes excess resin and trapped air,
sticking the cloth down right next to the
wood surface. The squeegeed cloth should
now have a semi-dry look with the weave
pattern showing; the cloth itself will be
invisible.

Work on as horizontal a surface as possible.

Fiberglassing is much easier if you are not
fighting gravity.

Keep on going, section by section, until you

are finished. If you are working on a very
large area use a dry roller cover on the
previous three or four sections to give a
final smoothing. On smaller boats the roller
can be used after the entire hull has been
fiberglassed.

The first step in doing a good fiberglass job

is to precoat the part. This avoids the problem
of having an unsealed porous structure soak
up too much epoxy, starving the bond.
Precoating doesnt use any more epoxy
than the more difficult one step method
(for experienced fiberglassers only!) and
helps to assure that maximum peel strength
is achieved. After the first coat cures fill any
holes with an epoxy/microballoon mixture
to provide a smooth base for the cloth.
Sand lightly but thoroughly to a uniform dull
surface. Clean the surface with clean, oil free
compressed air or brush off and wipe with a
clean damp rag to remove any remaining
traces of dust. We do not recommend using
acetone or similar solvents for this. Much
acetone sold today is reclaimed and may
have impurities that interfere with secondary
bonding by leaving a film of residue on the
surface.

Let the epoxy resin cure to the green state

stage where it is pliable but no longer tacky
unless pressed really hard. Nows the time
to trim the excess cloth. Trim by running a
single edged razor blade around where the
glass overhangs the edge. Press down any
glass that may be lifted from the surface
while trimming.
The selvege edges of the fiberglass have to
be feathered before being covered by another
piece of cloth. Wait another hour or so and
do the feathering with a Surform. Do it while
it is in the right state of cure. Too early and
the wet fiberglass will lift, too late and it will
be too hard to cut. The alternative is to wait
a day or so until it is hard enough to sand.

Next lay the fiberglass out on the precoated,

tack free surface, smoothing it out and doing
any rough trimming. Masking tape may be
necessary to hold the cloth in place if the
surface has any slope.

It is not always possible to have a selvage

edge on the cloth. Rather than have a cut
edge fraying all over the place which can
only be cleaned up by a lot of sanding later,
heres a trick that produces a very neat edge.
Run a piece of 2 masking tape so that the
inner edge of the tape is where you want to
stop the glass. Lay down the cloth so that it
runs at least an inch past the outer edge of
the tape. Wet out the glass past the inner
edge and about half way across the tape.
When the cure reaches the green state run a
single edge razor blade right down the inner
edge of the tape. Pull off the tape and presto,
you have a nice edge right where you cut
the fiberglass. If a little of the cloth lifts, press
it back down.

Mix no more than 300 ml of resin and 150

ml of hardener. Work with small batches
until you get the hang of it. Start at one end
and pour the resin out over an area equal to
about 50 ml per square ft. (450 ml does a
1 square meter area). Pour in S curves as
described in the coating section (on steep
surfaces apply the epoxy with a roller cover
and roller tray), spreading lightly into the dry
areas with a squeegee. We like the rubber
squeegee for laying down cloth. Let the resin
wet the cloth out. Dont try to force it through
the weave with the squeegee. Notice how
the cloth disappears as it wets out.

10

The weave of the cloth can be filled once the

resin has reached the green state of cure,
preferable the same day. If this is not practical,
sand lightly but thoroughly before recoating.
Dont try to sand the weave smooth, fill it
with epoxy. Apply fill coats the same as
discussed in the preceding section on
coating. Several coats may be necessary
before the weave is filled. It is possible to
thicken the epoxy slightly and do it in one
coat using a squeegee. Anti-sag Powder
(Cab-O-Sil) works best but dont use any
filler on surfaces that are to be clear finished.

roller cover and a roller pan. Use just

enough epoxy to wet out the cloth. When
cured finish in the usual way.
Corners and edges often require several
layers of cloth. Giving thought to a glassing
pattern will allow doubling at chines and
sheers without going through extra steps.
Corners are most easily patched. Cut
circles of different diameters from cloth
scraps. Wet down, dabbing at it with an
epoxy soaked brush. Lay down the next
larger circle over this wetting it with more
epoxy, if necessary. Continue the process
until finished. Each larger circle will fray the
cut edges of the smaller circle under it. This
process is called self-feathering. Use the
masking tape trick for the last circle and the
job will require little sanding to look nice.

When the weave has been filled the surface

should be sanded to prepare it for painting
or varnishing. Sand the epoxy, not the
fiberglass. Be sure to wear a respirator or
dust mask, gloves and a disposable paper
suit while sanding. If you do get the fiberglass itch take a cool shower, it will go away
in a few hours.

Heavy structural seams are best-done using

biaxial tape. Biaxial means that the fibers
run at 45 degrees to the way the tape comes
off the rolls. When run along a seam ALL
the fibers run across the seam at 45 degrees.
With regular plain woven tape half the fibers
run parallel to the seam and add nothing
to strength.

Applying fiberglass overhead is at best a

difficult, messy job. Anyone who has tried it
once has no desire to repeat the experience
and will do everything possible to try to turn
the boat over or at least work on a slant. If
this is not possible then there are several
suggestions for accomplishing this job.

Biaxial tape is heavy at 18 or 24 ounces per

square yard and it wont be clear like lighter
tape when wet out with epoxy so dont use
it for bright finished seams. Rather than
featheredge biaxial tape by sanding we
prefer to fair the edges using an epoxy/
balloon mixture.

If you are working on a relatively small area,

wet the surface with mixed resin/hardener
and lay a rough cut piece of cloth into the
resin. Surface tension will hold it into place
without sagging if too much resin is not
used. Using a squeegee overhead is a feat
no one has yet mastered. Use foam rollers.
Once the epoxy has cured you finish the
overhead area in the usual manner.

In summary, fiberglassing is a three-step

process:
1.

Glassing large overhead areas calls for a

different technique and a helper or two.
Most successful jobs are done by rolling on
a coating, then allowing it to cure to a tacky
state. The cloth is then rolled as smoothly
as possible onto the tacky coating. This is
where youll probably need more than one
person. Get the wrinkles out as you go along;
you wont be able to slide them out because
the tackiness of the coating will hold the
cloth in place. Once youve got the cloth
where you want it press it into the tacky
undercoat with a dry foam roller. When it
is all smoothed down, wet it out using the

Seal the porous surfaces to prevent

starving the joint. Do filling and fairing
on the sealed surfaces. Sand lightly but
thoroughly.

2. Stick the cloth down leaving a minimum

amount of resin in the cloth.
3. Fill the weave any time after the wet
cloth has reached the green stage and
is stuck to the substrate.

11

Using Fillers with

Epoxy Resins

filleting putties to improve tensile strength,

and are listed above in descending order of
tensile strength improvement.

Cold Cure epoxy properly mixed is intended

for both coating and fiberglassing. When
used right out of the jug the mixture is said
to be unfilled and it is too thin to be used
as a gap-filling adhesive or for fairing and
filleting compounds. For these applications
certain fillers are added. These materials
change the flow and density characteristics
of the epoxy system.

Paste pigments (titanium dioxide), black

paste (Carbon Black) and aluminum powder
are generally used as pigments. Adding
white paste pigment produces a white resin
coating that is useful for areas where a light
color is desired and painting is difficult.
Pigments arent meant to serve as substitutes
for paint in areas exposed to direct sunlight.
White paste pigment is useful when added
to the final fill coat when fiberglassing,
allowing this coat to serve as a cover coat
for finish painting.

All powders sold for use with Cold Cure

epoxy products are solid materials, falling
into four general classes: thixotropic agents,
bulking agents, fibers, and pigments. There
is some overlapping as to function of certain
fillers. For example, plastic minifibers is both
fibrous and acts also as a thixotropic agent.

Our pigments are pure dry colorants ground

into epoxy resin to produce an epoxy paste
pigment. Since they are dispersed into
epoxy resin they may be added to the resin
side of our epoxy systems to produce a
stable pigmented resin. Measure the amount
of the pigmented resin used to determine the
amount of hardener required. Used in very
small amounts these pigments are transparent
in an epoxy and can be said to act as dyes.
In larger amounts they are opaque.

Anti-sag powder (Zeothix), plastic minifibers

and wood flour are thixotropic agents. They
turn the epoxy into a thixotropic fluid. Most
people are not familiar with the term thixotropic though everyone is familiar with the
properties of these fluids. They flow under
shear stress but do not flow once the stress
is removed. Adding these agents to the
mixed resin and hardener produces a fluid,
which will easily flow under the spreading
stress of a putty knife. Once the stress is
removed the thickened epoxy retains shape.
In short, these powders make the epoxy
non-sagging, being added to restrict drainage
and make gap filling adhesives.

Fillers change the mechanical properties of

the cured resin, however, for all practical
purposes these changes can be ignored.
Thixotropic agents have the least effect since
they are used in the smallest amounts to
produce the desired result. Bulking agents
reduce tensile strength in proportion to the
amount added. Some will initially increase
compressive strength. With increasing
amounts of additives, though, compressive
strength will decrease.

Phenolic microballoons, quartz microspheres,

and wood flour are bulking agents. They
bulk out the epoxy making a lightweight
putty-like mix. Although all these thicken
the epoxy, only wood flour will make it
thixotropic. Attempting to add sufficient
microballoon or microspheres a non-sagging
fairing putty will result in one that spreads
poorly. These materials should be used
along with a thixotropic agent. Anti-sag
Powder is the best choice because it produces
the smoothest compound.

Numerous combinations of filler materials

are possible and we have not tested them all.
If you have an idea that a certain combination
might do something special for you then
check it out. Little pieces of scrap plywood
are good for this. Think up some destructive
tests that will simulate the stresses the
material will see in service. Check to see
where the failure occurs. If the wood breaks
then your combination should work well
with wood, at least.

Chopped glass strands, milled glass fibers,

and plastic minifibers are fibrous materials
that can be incorporated into structural

12

This is the correct sequence for the addition

of filler materials:

wood scarf joints are made at a minimum

8:1 slope. Fillets increase glue surface area
and are used to relieve stress concentrations
that build at right angle corners. Stringers,
for example, should have fillets where they
butt onto planking.

1.

Correctly measure and mix resin/

hardener
2. Add fiber fillers, if any and mix well
3. Add bulking agents, if any and mix well
4. Add thixotropic agent and mix well.

Second, make sure that the surfaces being

glued are clean, free of grease, oil, wax, and
other contaminants that could act as release
agents. If the surface is coated with cured
epoxy, sand before gluing and wipe the dust
off. Remove paint rather than trying to glue
onto a painted surface. Epoxy resins stick
well to paint although the overall bond
strength will be no better than the paint to
substrate bond.

Epoxy Resins as
Structural Adhesives
The mixed viscosity of Cold Cure epoxy is
not high enough to make a good gap filling
adhesive. Thixotropic agents like Zeothix,
Plastic Minifibers, and Wood Flour are used
to thicken the epoxy and change the flow
characteristics. These fillers will turn the
epoxy from translucent to opaque depending on the type and amount used. Anti-sag
and Plastic Minifibers make the powder
epoxy whitish while Wood Flour turns it
reddish-brown. Anti-sag makes a smooth
material while epoxy thickened with Plastic
Minifibers or Wood Flour will be coarse.

Third, do not overclamp. Epoxy resins

require only contact pressure. Overclamping
can squeeze most of the adhesive out of the
glue joint and the epoxy that is left may be
absorbed if the surface is porous, starving
the joint. A glue-starved joint is very weak.
Use only enough pressure to hold the joint
immobile and keep the two surfaces in
contact until the epoxy has set overnight
at normal temperatures. Nails, screws,
clamps, rubber bands, or staples can all be
utilized to do this holding job. Clamp just
hard enough to close up the joint.

Microballoons and microspheres should not

be routinely used in an adhesive formulation
as they reduce tensile strength. Quartz
Microspheres may be used as a filler/
thickener for cold molding where the surface
area to be bonded is large with respect to the
mass. Microspheres are acceptable here
because of the large glue surface area
involved and the low microsphere loading
level.

Fourth, remember that epoxy resins continue

to cure and build strength for several days
after they solidify. Joints that will be under
immediate stress once they are unclamped
need more cure time before the clamps are
removed. Overnight cures are usually
sufficient for most non-stressed joints. A
common cause of epoxy joint failures is too
much stress before the epoxy has reached
sufficient strength. Such a case might occur
where a scarfed joint is unclamped and bent
into place too soon.

Making an epoxy glue joint is quite simple.

First, properly measure and mix the resin
and hardener, then coat both mating surfaces
with this unfilled epoxy to wet them out. It is
not necessary to let this coat cure. Next add
the thixotropic agent to the balance of the
mixed resin/hardener blend and spread this
thickened resin on either of the two surfaces
to be glued and close up the joint. Thats all
there is to it but there are some tricks and
things to keep in mind.

Fifth, protect any finished wood glue joint

from weather degradation. Wood that is
allowed to weather will cycle through moisture
content extremes. Wood expands as the
moisture content increases. This expansion
can set up enormous stress concentrations
across the glue joint due to uneven rates of
expansion on either side of the glue line.
These stress concentrations can exceed the
strength of any glue, including epoxy resins,

First, remember that the ultimate strength of

any glue joint is a function of the glue
surface area. The more surface area, the
stronger the joint. This is the reason that

13

causing failure. Protecting the joint by epoxy

coating all surfaces of the glued wood stops
the moisture cycling and prevents failure
because of weathering. This is not a problem
for wood glued with epoxy that will not be
subject to deep moisture cycling.

Epoxy resins usually bond well with cured

thermoset materials like polyester, vinyl
ester, and other epoxy resins as long as the
cured surface is sanded and wax free. However,
you should not try to bond polyester, vinyl
ester, or other polymeric materials which are
cured with MEKP or other peroxide catalysts
to cured epoxy resins.

Cold Cure epoxy works well for use as an

adhesive for wood-to-wood and fiberglass
cloth-to-wood bonds. When we are asked if
it can be used to bond metals and plastics
the general answer is that it depends on the
materials involved and their intended use.

There are too many materials and combinations to cover every possibility. We suggest
that you model any questionable materials
that you want to bond. Glue some scraps
and test them. Try accelerated aging and
retest them. If they survive an hour in 70C
(160F) water they will probably last for quite
a while. You have the ultimate responsibility
for your own work.

Metal/metal bonding success depends

upon the type of metals bonded, the surface
preparation, and the intended service
temperature. Generally, we recommend
against making structural metal/metal bonds
with epoxy resins unless they are specifically
formulated for that purpose. Our testing
shows that these bonds degrade over time
due to different thermal expansion rates
setting up shear stress and resultant interfacial
failure. For non-structural applications the
flexible mastic materials appear to hold
better than the more rigid epoxies as they
allow for thermal expansion.

Sometimes theres a need for clear gap

filling thickened epoxy. Its not possible to
produce such a material using any of the
solid thixotropic agents previously discussed.
Our G-1 glue is handy for this since it is
clear and thick.
5-Cure is our 1:1 five minute epoxy. Items
glued with 5-Cure can be stressed in as little
as 10 minutes. It is very handy to have in the
shop for this reason. Builders often find that
missed screw hole when ready to lay down
the fiberglass cloth. Mix a little 5-Cure, add
some Wood Flour or Anti-sag and youve got
an instant putty to fill the hole. 5-Cure can
also be used in combination with Cold Cure
as a spot welder where clamping is all but
impossible.

Metal/wood bonding for non-structural

applications may be done successfully with
Cold Cure epoxy providing that the metal is
clean and bright. Structural applications are
best when they are mechanically fastened.
Dont put stainless bolts in epoxy resin.
Stainless steel works only in the presence
of sufficient oxygen. The epoxy will deprive
it of oxygen causing crevice corrosion in
the presence of an electrolyte like seawater.
Stainless steel fastener failure occurs where
the bolt emerges from the epoxy resin.

Coat the pieces to be bonded with thickened

Cold Cure epoxy except leave several golf
ball-sized bare areas. Mix some 5-Cure and
apply to the bare areas. Push the pieces to
be bonded together with enough pressure
to cause some ooze out. Hold in place for
about five minutes until the 5-Cure hardens.
Now the 5-Cure will hold the pieces together
while the Cold Cure epoxy sets.

Bonding to metal alone such as fairings on

lead keels will work well with Cold Cure
epoxy so long as the lead is bright and free
of oxidation.
Thermoplastic materials like vinyl, PVC
or ABS generally bond poorly with epoxy
resins. If you need to bond any of these test
them yourself. You will get the best results if
you first sand the plastic with coarse paper.
Epoxy will not bond to polyethylene,
polypropylene, or Teflon. It bonds well
to neoprene and polyurethane rubbers.

Unlike our other epoxy systems 5-Cure and

30-Cure, like all similar epoxy products, is
water resistant, not waterproof. It is fine for
intermittent water contact but should not
be constantly immersed.

14

than sanding the whole fillet down to a

common level. Blow or brush off the sanding
dust (wear a dust mask!). Make up some
more filleting compound and use a broad
putty knife to fill the low spots resting the
blade against the fillet parallel to the long
axis of the filet. Allow the putty to cure and
do a final sanding. Thats it! Perfect fillets in
two easy steps with little sanding.

Filleting, Fairing, and

Molding with Epoxy Resins
Cold Cure epoxy is mixed with phenolic
microballoons (purple), quartz microspheres
(white), or wood flour (brown) to make puttylike material that is used for making cosmetic
or structural filleting, fairing, or molding
compounds. Rather than supply these
compounds in a premixed form, we supply
the raw materials so that builders are
allowed the versatility of creating customized
compounds to fit a specific need.

Before microballoons are painted they

should be sealed with epoxy or else the
paint goes into the tiny hollows in the
broken balloons and the finish will appear
ragged. Brush or roll on a coat of epoxy on
the sanded balloons, allow to cure and sand
lightly before painting.

Filleting is the process of adding an epoxy

putty to concave angled corners for cosmetic
and structural reasons. Cosmetic fillets are
generally low density being made by the
addition of microballoons which bulk out
the epoxy. Structural fillets are high density
and are thickened with anti-sag mini-fibers
or wood flour. These fillets sometimes
contain glass fiber. Thixotropic agents make
the mix non-sagging when sufficient
amounts are used. Microballoons and
microspheres do thicken the epoxy, but
when used in proper loadings do not
prevent sagging, and need the addition of
a thixotropic agent.

Structural fillets increase the glue joint

surface area relieving stress concentration
zones that occur at angled corners. They are
usually made at the same time that the piece
creating the corner is attached. For example,
when sheet plywood is glued onto a stringer
the excess glue that oozes out can be used
to form a fillet. A gloved finger makes a
good filleting tool, as these fillets dont
need to be large.
Large structural fillets are generally made in
a separate operation in a manner similar to
making cosmetic fillets. If they arent going
to show there really is no need to make them
pretty. The addition of either milled glass
fibers or chopped glass strands improves the
tensile strength of structural fillets.

Cosmetic fillets are applied by putting an

excess of material along the length of the
corner with a putty knife or caulking tube.
Be careful not to force big air bubbles into
the fillet when putting the putty in the
corner. A rounded tool is used to shape the
putty by drawing it along the fillet. The sides
of the tool should touch both sides of the
corner and the tool radius is determined
by how rounded the finished fillet will be.
Almost any material can be used to make
a fillet tool. Plywood paddles work well,
are easy to make and are inexpensive.
The excess putty will be forced out on
either side of the tool where it is scraped
off with a putty knife.

Fillets in stitch-and-glue construction usually

are fiberglassed. The easiest way to do this is
to fiberglass the fillet when it is in a semi-stiff
state so that it can still be pushed around with
an epoxy-saturated brush. This saves having
to sand the fillet after it is cured.
Fairing is the operation of filling the low
spots to the level of the high spots, eliminating
waviness and hollows. The compound used
is identical to that of the cosmetic fillet and
the operation is similar except that large flat
areas are involved. Large drywall broad
knives, stiff boards with tapered edged
squeegees, and similar tools are useful for
fairing. Once the putty has cured it is sanded
with large blocks to a level fair with the
surrounding area. On very large areas low

Once the fillet is cured it may be sanded.

A round edged sanding block with coarse
(50 to 60 grit) paper works best. Knock off
the high spots with the sandpaper and then
come back and fill in the low spots with an
additional batch of putty. This is much easier

15

spots may appear during sanding that will

need a second fairing. After final sanding the
fairing compound should be sealed with
epoxy prior to painting.

months of intense tropical sunlight on

horizontal surfaces. Total breakdown will
occur about 15 months under these same
conditions.

A slick way to fair a large area and avoid a

lot of tedious sanding is to use a serrated
trowel like the metal one floor tilers use to
spread mastic. Apply the fairing putty using
this tool leaving a series of parallel ridges
that stand proud of the surface. Allow the
putty to cure, then sand the area. Notice that
all you are sanding is the tops of the ridges
about one fourth of the total surface is being
faired. Sanding dust falls into the valleys.
Once the ridge tops are fair, the area is
cleaned of sanding dust and the valleys are
filled with fairing compound using a broad
knife with a straight edge. Only a light
sanding is then required for final fairing
following cure. Seal with epoxy before
painting.

Bright finished boats should be finished with

a clear coating that contains a UV inhibitor.
This inhibitor is sacrificial so the coating
must be periodically renewed if the epoxy
is to be protected. When the clear coating
starts to look dull its time to refinish. Old
coatings are removed by sanding or are
chemically stripped with strong solvents.
Test patch an inconspicuous area to make
sure that the solvent used does not attack
the epoxy base. Solvents and removers
containing methylene chloride will etch
epoxy surfaces. Dont use these. Be sure
to observe the usual precautions when
working with these solvents.
Opaque paints do not allow the passage of
UV light, offering the best protection of the
epoxy coating. A primer coat prior to painting
over Industrial Formulators epoxy with these
paints is quite helpful for several reasons.

Painting and Finishing

Over the years nearly half of the technical
service questions were asked involve
painting and varnishing. More than anything
else this has been the area that has caused
most people trouble. We have solved these
problems by developing our own painting
system for epoxy resin surfaces more on
this later.

Besides bottom paint, three broad classes of

coatings are commonly used as boat paints.
These are the one part alkyd and modified
alkyd enamels commonly called oil base
paints, the two part epoxy and the two part
linear polyurethane (LPU) paints. Since all
epoxy based materials eventually chalk in
sunlight be careful to consider exposure
when using the two-part epoxy paints for
exterior finish coats. Two part epoxy primers
are recommended as high build sanding
base primers for LPU paints.

Industrial Formulators epoxy surfaces may

be coated either with opaque paints or
finished with clear varnishes. The epoxy
surface accepts finishes like any other nonporous surface except that it is chemically
active to certain materials because of
unreacted amines on the surface and
throughout the epoxy matrix.

Be sure that you are getting what you expect

when purchasing a marine paint. Paints sold
in marine stores today are a triumph of
marketing over technology. Remember the
adage: The big print giveth while the small
print taketh away. It is not uncommon to see
the pretty face of a paint can staring back at
you screaming Buy me! I am a one part
polyurethane. Yet, when you read the back of
the can you find that the ingredients state that
it contains polyurethane safflower alkyd resin
or some other modified alkyd. If it says alkyd
anywhere on the can then it is an alkyd NOT
a polyurethane. True polyurethanes often

All outside epoxy surfaces exposed to

sunlight must be protected from degradation
by ultraviolet (UV) light. This is the invisible
short wave length portion of sunlight that
causes sunburn. The long-term effect of UV
on unprotected epoxy is a dulling of the
clear film, followed by chalking and, finally,
film cracking and delamination. The initial
effects of UV degradation on Industrial
Formulators epoxy start after about six

16

referred to as LPU paints are two parts and

cost about two to three times what an alkyd
costs. If the ingredients are not specified on
the can, then ask for a MSDS on the paint.

Test patches are advisable prior to painting or varnishing over an epoxy coating.
These test patches will give you a feel for
how the various coating materials handle
and point out any possible incompatibility
problems to their becoming a disaster all
over your boat.

Alkyd enamels and related one part solventbased paints and varnishes are easy to work
with but may not properly dry on epoxy
resins. They may be brushed, rolled or
sprayed and dry to a glossy film that is easy
to refinish. Their main drawback as a finish
is that they are softer than LPU paints and
chalk slowly over a period of time.

To do a test patch, coat a small area with the

painting system selected to make sure that
each paint layer dries properly and adheres
well to its substrate. One reason for doing
this is that epoxy resins, despite sanding and
long cure time remain chemically active to
certain components of alkyd paint and
varnish systems. Generally, epoxy primers
and LPU paints are compatible with epoxy
resin coatings and may even chemically
bond. However, some of the alkyd enamels
and other one part paints and varnishes may
not properly dry on epoxy resin coatings.
The free unreacted amine in the epoxy resin
coating interferes with the action of the
mettallic driers in some of these paints.
If this happens the paint may surface dry
but remain soft and tacky next to the epoxy
resin surface.

LPU paints dry very hard with excellent

gloss, are not degraded by sunlight and
wear very well. Their main drawback is that
they require immaculate surface preparation.
The solvent based LPU paints contain some
very hazardous materials and are difficult to
apply. They can turn dull when curing if the
humidity is too high. Our experience is that
the application of solvent based LPU paints
is beyond the skill of most amateur
boatbuilders.
Because of the ultra high gloss and thin
film of LPU paints any imperfection in the
substrate will show in the finished coating.
Thus, the tendency of the alkyd paints to
dull to a semi-gloss finish over time can hide
some of the flaws that might otherwise mar
an LPU finish. However, if the boat is perfect
and you are willing to spend the time and
care required to use LPU paints, shell even
be more beautiful.

A similar chemical phenomenon occurs

between the amines in epoxy hardeners and
the peroxide catalyst used in polyester and
vinyl ester resins and primers. The amines
inhibit the action of the peroxide catalyst
preventing cure at the interface. For this
reason, it is not possible to gel coat cured
epoxy without specialty barrier coats and it
is very risky to use peroxide cured polymers
directly over cured epoxy resins. Besides,
gel coats dont look all that good when
applied to a male form. Their best use is
against a polished female mold.

Use any color you want so long as it is light.

If you paint with a dark color and the boat is
in the summer sun you are going to experience a number of problems especially if it is
a wood boat. First, youll get print through.
This is the telegraphing of the cloth weave
pattern to the glossy painted surface. Second,
youll see what appears to be shrinkage of
the epoxy resin (microballoon putty over
screw holes, for example). This is caused by
the expansion and contraction of the wood
fiber due to changing moisture content
rapidly aggravated by excess heat soaked
up by your darkly painted boat. Finally, the
useful life of the boat will be shorter.

Be sure to follow the paint manufacturers

instructions when doing the test patch. With
the exception of the high build two part
epoxy primers, all finish paint systems
should be applied thinly. Thick coats will
not dry properly and may take weeks to
through dry. Temperature and humidity
play an important role in the speed of alkyd
paint drying. The higher the temperature
and lower the humidity, the faster drying.

17

You can gauge drying by digging your

fingernail into your test patch and scratching.
If the paint film is still soft below its surface
then it has not finished drying. A dry film is
hard all the way through. A simple test
called the cross hatch adhesion test will show
how the new layer bonds to he substrates. Do
this test only on paint that has dried thoroughly.
To do this test, take an industrial razor blade
and score the surface with a set of 8 parallel
lines about an eighth of an inch apart. Score
a similar set at 90 degrees from and crossing
the first set. The finished lines should look
like a giant tic tac toe grid. Take some tan
masking tape and press the sticky side into
the grid leaving a tail. Press the tape with the
back of your fingernail. Grab the tail and jerk
the tape off the grid. Examine both the tape
and the grid for paint adhesion failures.
Except for the grid lines on the tape, no paint
should come off on the tape. If it does then
you have an adhesion problem and it WILL
show up on your boat most likely in the form
of paint blisters. Resand with a coarser grit
or better, select a different substrate/top coat
combination and test it.

Troubleshooting
Following are questions we are commonly
asked when something goes wrong. We
hope that you will read them because if you
have a problem the answer may appear
below. If it doesnt then call us on our
technical line and well go over it with you.
Problem: The epoxy has turned hazy and has
white material in the bottom of the jug.
Cause and Solution: The epoxy is crystallizing
due to storage at too low a temperature. Heat
resin to 60C until crystallization clears. You
can do this by placing the material (enclosed
in its original container) in a hot water bath
or in a black plastic bag in the sun.
Problem: The epoxy isnt curing.
Cause and Solution: It was mixed at the wrong
ratio. Resin was mixed with resin or vice versa.
Remove the uncured material thoroughly by
scraping and solvent washing. Mix at proper
ratio and reapply.

Once you are satisfied that there are no

system compatibility or adhesion problems
then you can paint your boat with confidence.

Problem: The epoxy keeps going off in the pot.

Cause and Solution: The batch is too big or left
too long in the pot. The hardener is too fast for
the conditions. Use a smaller batch and get it
out of the pot sooner. Change hardeners.

By this time you are probably wondering

why we dont just give you a list of what
paint brands you can use. We would if we
could but because paint makers are free to
modify their formulations without notifying
Industrial Formulators we will not recommend a specific brand of paint. The batch
we test might have changed by the time
information about our results gets to you.
It is not possible for us to keep up with all
the different brands and lot numbers.

Problem: The epoxy is still gummy.

Cause and Solution: The ratio was wrong. It was
inadequately mixed. Not enough time has
elapsed at the curing temperature. Make sure
that the gumminess is not just the amine
blush. Wait and see if the cure proceeds.
Apply some heat if possible. If it is still gummy
then remove the uncured material thoroughly
by scraping and solvent washing. Mix at
proper ratio and reapply.

18

3824 William St.

Burnaby, BC
Canada, V5C 3H9
Technical Support: (604) 294-5723
FAX: (604) 294-8052
Orders Only: 1-800-778-0833