Crystals in Epoxy, Why?

by: FOC FAQ

EPOXY: Ask FOC Ask FOC

Published: June 21, 2015

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QUESTION: Why does my epoxy have crystals in it?

ANSWER:

Crystallization of liquid epoxy is a known phenomenon that frequently surprises users who are not very familiar with epoxies. Crystallization may look like crystals, snowflakes, cloudiness, fog, turbidity, and even a solid, or a solid sediment, in the epoxy resin.

The reason some epoxy resins crystallize has to do with their ‘super-cooled’ nature – they are supposed to be solids at room temperature, but have remained liquid below their solidification (freezing) point. Therefor super-cooled liquids have a natural tendency to crystallize.

The timing of crystallization is highly variable and unpredictable. Factors effecting crystallization include resin purity, viscosity, additives, moisture content, the presence of ‘seed’ crystals, and environmental variables such as storage temperature and even a sudden cold shock.

Crystals can be easily eliminated by increasing the temperature of the liquid resin to about 50°C (about 122°F) for a period of hours or until all signs of the crystals are gone. Allow the resin to cool back to room temperature, and proceed to use normally. There is nothing about crystallization that is damaging to the epoxy. It is the same as water freezing, and melting ice: the water is exactly the same before and after crystallization.

ADDITIONAL CONTENT & RESOURCES:

Category Resource: FOC Epoxy Page
Find More Information in this Blog: Helpful Epoxy Tips (and a Few Tricks)

Answered by AskFOC Technical Team June 21, 2015

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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.

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

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