The Epoxy Resin Page

Info - Marine - Floor - Purchasing

by Paul Oman 8/2010

A Clear Marine Epoxy shown in spill mode

Basics:

Epoxies are two part products that are mixed together starting a chemical reaction that turns the mixture into a hard plastic like material. Generally, the Part A is an epoxy resin - there are several different epoxy resins, but the most common is called Bisphenol A. The Part B is called the curing agent. There are dozens of different curing agents and most epoxy products are a combination of different curing agents. There are also other fillers, additives and other chemicals that can be added to either A or B to adjust certain properties, add certain properties, lower costs/quality, etc.

All cured epoxies will yellow and degrade in sunlight. It is the Part B that actually yellows in sunlight (UV) and even in the dark over time. Some epoxies (epoxy curing systems) yellow faster than others, but they all will yellow thus changing the color of the original epoxy. To protect the epoxy and prevent yellowing, epoxy systems are generally painted over with an enamel, polyurethane, or even a latex coating. So, in most cased, the epoxy does the 'work' while the topcoat provides the 'looks'.

Boat Building - stitch and glue method - plywood and epoxy

Boat building with a simple epoxy resin system is very common. Usually it involves plywood, fiberglass cloth and epoxy (to soak - Wet Out - the fiberglass cloth). Here you see plywood panels temporarily held in place with cable ties. Epoxy and fiberglass cloth is used to fill and glue the seams and sometimes to cover the plywood skin.

There are lots of different brands of marine epoxy on the marketplace. The better brands are formulated by chemists using raw epoxy resin and different curing agents purchased from the large chemical companies. These are formulated epoxies. The lower end products are made available by companies that simply purchase the raw materials and repackage into smaller units for re-sell. They do not formulate the product, they simply resell what the formulators would consider to be the 'raw materials'.

Most marine epoxies us a curing agent(s) that can produce a waxy film on the surface of the curing/hardening epoxy. This is called amine blush, or blush for short. It must be removed before the epoxy can be topcoated. Often the same companies sell a non blushing marine epoxy, but it costs more. Basic No Blush (tm) is a non blushing, formulated epoxy that is sold at distributor prices (compared to the high priced leading brand names). Basic No Blush (tm) can be purchased at http://www.epoxyusa.com - Epoxy Resin

Epoxy Garage Floor with paint chips - a multi coat system

There are several different kinds of epoxy floor paints that are available - ranging from low end water-based epoxies sold in box stores to solvent free industrial grade products. An epoxy floor can be a 1 to 7 coat system. It may include decorative paint chips such as the example in the picture above. Even with this example there are several different application methods, clear coat options etc. to consider. Also the color, amount/density of the paint chips also needs to be decided upon. The bottom line is that there are many decisions to be made in selecting an epoxy floor option - not coating issues of the floor itself and the preparation of the floor. Sometimes no amount of surface prep is enough and problems develop. The bad news is one never knows if the prep was suitable or enough until after the fact. See http:/www.epoxyproducts.com/floorcoating.html to begin the process.

Commercial poured epoxy resin bar

A clear epoxy can be poured into a cavity/well resulting in a poured epoxy bar top or table top. Note the epoxy will yellow in sunlight (not very good for outside use) and can be easily scratched. Keep hot things off of it. One gallon of epoxy (or water) will only cover 6 square feet of surface 1/4 of an inch deep and these epoxies cost $50-$100 per gallon. Poured bar tops and table tops are expensive - especially if you mess it up! But commercial bar owners realize that all there money is made within 10 feet of the bar, so the bar often gets the 'funding' it needs! Learn more - click here.