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    Looking for Tips on Epoxy Work Surfaces

    by:
    EPOXY: Ask FOC Ask FOC
    Published: January 12, 2017

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    QUESTION: Looking for tips on epoxy work surfaces. Do you have any information on that?

     

    ANSWER:  

    When working with epoxy, neatness really counts.  Since the pot life on epoxy starts the moment the two parts are mixed, plan your work so that you have everything you need when you start – like:

    • really clean mixing equipment and any secondary mixing containers (stainless steel spatulas, polyethelyene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) mix containers that have been final rinsed with electronic grade isopropyl alcohol (IPA, <0.5% water))

    • timers

    • helpful fixturing – i.e. a test tube-like rack for holding syringes upright

    • any dispensing equipment reservoirs, positioned to be filled directly

     

    Something that can also be helpful is a polyethylene work surface.  PE is white in color, chemically resistant and available in 1/8” or ¼” sheets, like plywood.  It can be cut (using wood working tools) and laid down in any dedicated space to make a clean, and easily cleaned, work surface.  Any uncured epoxy that lands on a PE surface can easily be wiped off (acetone and a Kim-Wipe make this very easy), and cured epoxy can be removed even more easily by gentle scraping – the cured epoxy will pop off of the PE surface.

    Since PE is white, the gleaming surface may by its very nature discourage other activities that clutter and intrude on this area where neatness really counts.   Any extra pieces of PE can also be used to create fixtures that helps make the mixing/filling job go more smoothly.

     

    ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

     

    SM6AskFOCIcon   Answered by AskFOC Technical Team January 12, 2017

     

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    About the Author
    FOC FAQ Fiber Optic Center has a team of technical experts and marketing strategists with decades of years in the field. This team contributes to the fiber, cable and specialty industries coverage through news, alerts, reports and general media information.
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    About Fiber Optic Center, Inc.
    Fiber Optic Center, Inc., (FOC), is an international leader in distributing fiber optic components, equipment and supplies and has been helping customers make the best cable assemblies in the world for over two decades. Several areas of specialization and expertise, in which they are the industry leader, make them the preferred choice for many of the world’s fiber professionals. In these key technology areas, FOC is "at least as technical as the manufacturer" about the products they sell. Striving to "make the business part easy," they offer outstanding and personal customer service, low or no minimum purchase order values, and from-stock delivery on industry-leading products and technology. FOC is the industry connection to the most innovative optical products, technologies and technical experts who integrate their manufacturing knowledge and vast experience into customers' worldwide operations. @FiberOpticCntr

    For further information contact:
    Fiber Optic Center, Inc., 23 Centre Street, New Bedford, MA 02740-6322
    Toll Free in US: 800-IS-FIBER or 800-473-4237 . Direct 508-992-6464. Email: sales@focenter.com or fiberopticcenter@focenter.com

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    Kathleen Skelton, Director of Strategic Marketing, C: 617-803-3014 . E: kskelton@focenter.com
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