QUESTION: How do you safely dispose of epoxy? ANSWER: Once it cures and hardens, epoxy can be thrown away in regular waste. Think of it this way: You must allow a gallon of house paint to dry and harden before throwing it out. Liquid epoxy can be hazardous,...
QUESTION: Why is bond line thickness important? ANSWER: Proper bond line thickness ensures you’ll achieve the adhesive properties AND performance specified in the epoxy’s datasheet. If there is inadequate bond line thickness, the risks include low strength...
QUESTION: Since cleanliness counts, how can I improve my epoxy work surface? ANSWER: The pot life on epoxy starts the moment the two parts are mixed. This means you need to plan your work, and have everything you need at your fingertips. Here’s a...
QUESTION: Which package size of epoxy is right for my process? ANSWER: I often encourage my customers to consider purchasing 4-gram packages of epoxy – if this size supports their process. Briefly, here’s why I recommend the 4-gram package: Higher...
QUESTION: Why does crystallization happen? ANSWER: Simply put, the liquid resin is fighting to return to its natural state, which is a solid form. Crystallization in epoxies is so common that major manufacturers have written datasheets on the subject. According...
QUESTION: What is the recommended minimum bond line thickness? ANSWER: A general guideline for minimum bond line thickness is between 25 to 150 microns (1 to 6 mils) – as a starting point. I recommend you choose a certain level to start, then make a few thicker...
QUESTION: How do we get information about allergic issues on some of the specific epoxy products you sell? ANSWER: By reading the Safety Data Sheet (SDS) prior to handling, which is available for each hazardous product supplied, you can review general health...
QUESTION: What if you continually have problems with epoxy mixing? ANSWER: In my time at Fiber Optic Center, I’ve noticed a trend. Sometimes when an epoxy-related issue emerges, there’s an assumption that the epoxy has an inaccurate mix ratio or is defective....
QUESTION: What’s the easiest way to load a syringe with a mixed package of epoxy? ANSWER: It’s important to have BOTH HANDS available to do the job. This means your syringes should be clean, ready to use, and positioned for loading. I recommend using a test...
QUESTION: We use extremely small quantities of epoxy. How can we reduce waste? ANSWER: I suggest you purchase the smallest package available, mix Part A and Part B, dispense all the material into syringes, and use what you need immediately. A favorite tip: As...
QUESTION: Our technicians might be overmixing epoxy. What advice can you give us? ANSWER: If you mix too vigorously, you can trap air in the material and introduce bubbles. In the production process, it’s important to dispense a drop of epoxy – not a bubble. So...
QUESTION: How can we minimize epoxy material waste and reduce costs? ANSWER: Recommendations to adjust your epoxy process, which can minimize material waste and reduce costs Here are two ideas to alter your epoxy-related production process. These process...
QUESTION: If the epoxy has filler or glass beads, will that interfere with the strength of the bond – and create the need for a thicker bond line? ANSWER: If an epoxy has a filler or glass beads, the manufacturer has included the filler for a reason. The filler...
QUESTION: What happens if you overmix epoxy? ANSWER: The possibility of overmixing is more likely. The goal is to thoroughly blend Part A and Part B with minimal bubbles. (In the production process, you don’t want to dispense a bubble instead of drop of epoxy.)...
QUESTION: How can one verify that epoxy processes are appropriate for the product? ANSWER: The only way to verify that epoxy processes are appropriate for the product is through destructive product testing during process development. And since destructive...
