Expert Guide to Epoxy Resin Dry Time: Temperature, Mixing and More

Resin Dry time. Epoxy resin is a thermosetting polymer that is hardened by heat generated during the curing process. The curing process involves the reaction between resin (part A) and hardener (part B). The temperature of the room, precision of the mixing ratio, homogeneity of the mix, thickness of the pour, design of the pour and demolding time are all factors that can impact the curing process and affect the final cure of the epoxy.

If the temperature is below 22°C, the curing process will be slowed down, with each degree below 22°C slowing the process by approximately 10%. If the mixing ratio is not precise or the mix is not homogeneous, the epoxy will not reach its full cure and hardness. Pouring less than recommended or having a design that is too small will also affect the curing time. Demolding too soon before the final cure can result in a soft or flexible epoxy.

The final cure can be determined by using a durometer, which measures the hardness of the resin. If the epoxy has reached its final hardness, it can be demolded.

The curing time of epoxy resin can be affected by factors such as temperature, precision of mixing ratio, homogeneity of the mix, thickness of the pour, temperature of the working area, demolding too early, design of the pour, and others. To ensure proper curing, the temperature should be kept at 22°C, the mixing ratio should be precise, the mix should be homogeneous, the pour should be thick enough, the temperature of the working area should be kept at 22°C or higher, demolding should be done after 7 days, and the design of the pour should be considered. To check if the epoxy has reached its final cure, a durometer can be used, which will indicate the hardness of the resin.

Why is my Epoxy Resin Taking Longer to Cure?

To summarize, the cure time of epoxy resin can be influenced by several factors, such as:

• Temperature of the product in the containers (ideally 22°C, lower temperature slows down the curing process)
• Precision of the mixing ratio
• Homogeneity of the mix
• Thickness of the pour
• Temperature of the working area
• Demolding too fast
• Design of the pour (length x width x thickness)

Resin Dry time

For example, the CHILL ICE 2 casting epoxy will cure faster in a 30L pour versus a 15L pour, and a 2″ thick project will cure faster than a 1″ thick project. You can verify the hardness of the cured epoxy using a durometer and only demold it once it reaches its final hardness.

Leaving a small amount of uncured epoxy in the mixing cup and allowing it to cure can be a good indication of whether all steps have been followed correctly. If the epoxy in the cup cures properly and hardens, it’s likely that the larger batch was mixed correctly and the curing process was not affected by any of the factors mentioned in the text, such as temperature, mixing ratio, homogeneity, pour thickness, and demolding time. However, it’s important to keep in mind that curing time may still vary depending on the design of the pour and the amount of epoxy used, so a durometer test is recommended to confirm the hardness of the cured resin.

The curing time of epoxy resin may be affected by several factors, including temperature, mixing ratio, homogeneity of the mix, thickness of the pour, and design of the pour. If the temperature is lower than 22°C, it will slow down the curing process, and each degree below 22°C will affect the curing time by approximately 10%. If the mixing ratio is not precise or the mix is not homogeneous, the resin may not reach its full cure and hardness, resulting in a soft or flexible epoxy. The thickness of the pour, the temperature of the working area, and the design of the pour also impact the curing process. It is recommended to wait for 7 days at 22°C for the resin to reach its final cure, and to verify the hardness of the resin using a durometer. The CHILL ICE 2 casting epoxy is a specific product mentioned as an example.

Thank you for taking the time to read this FAQ. If you need further information or guidance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at support@polymerestechnologies.com. We are always here to help.