In proximity to high heat: Epoxy is fairly heat resistant, but you shouldn't apply it to a surface adjacent to intense heat sources, as this can gradually cause heat damage and softening of the finish.
Health Hazard Summary: The most common effects of overexposure to the chemicals used in epoxy resin systems are eye, nose, throat, and skin irritation, skin allergies, and asthma. Chemicals in some epoxy resin systems have additional health effects.
Sanding epoxy before it has fully cured can cause serious health problems. Epoxy chemicals remain reactive until they have cured, and when inhaled these particles get trapped in the mucus lining of your respiratory system where they can cause severe irritation and/or respiratory allergies.
Epoxy resin adhesives will bond with most all woods (though a primer sealer if often recommended for many types of wood to seal it). Resin does not bond to Teflon, polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon, or Mylar. It bonds poorly to polyvinyl chloride, acrylic and polycarbonate plastics.
Epoxy to fix plastic can also be used to fill in gaps. UniBond Repair Epoxy Plastic is only suitable for bonding hard plastics, not suitable for polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), PTFE and flexible PVC. Simply inject the epoxy glue for plastic into the crack and clamp the chair together until the glue dries.
Excellent chemical resistance to solvents, bases, acids, alcohol and fuels. Withstands exposure to methylene chloride, phenol (10%) and nitric acid (30%).
Isopropyl Alcohol, Denatured Alcohol, Acetone, Lacquer Thinner. Stronger solvents like isopropyl alcohol, denatured alcohol, acetone, or lacquer thinner will remove epoxy much more quickly. Stronger solvents can often be found at varying concentrations.
Clearest epoxy resin can work really well on materials such as wood, photographs, inkjet prints, acrylic paintings, oil paintings that have completely dried, watercolour paintings, spray paint artwork, ink, paper collages, oil pastel artworks, sculptures, projects using flowers, rocks, and other natural objects.
Weakness #1: Strong Solvents
These substances will gradually dissolve an epoxy resin surface, weakening it and reverting it to a liquid. The length of time this takes to happen varies by product. Using solvents can be desirable if you need to remove epoxy resin from a surface.
Epoxy resins can be harmful if not used properly. All epoxy resin can cause skin irritation, however certain epoxy resin brands contain chemicals that may lead to respiratory issues, organ damage, as well as environmental harm if not handled with care.
In a cold and damp environment, the epoxy may take significantly longer to cure, meaning there is a potential for harmful fumes for much longer than three days. Fumes also take much longer to dissipate in poorly ventilated areas. Under normal conditions, most epoxy applications will be fully cured in seven days.
The non-porous nature of epoxy makes it slippery when covered by moisture. This can be a dangerous issue if the epoxy coating is present in areas where the elderly or small children walk on a regular basis. However, there are materials that may be added to the coating to make the surface non-slip.
A recently published paper describes a study of the fungal and bacterial microflora isolated from an epoxy art object, which can grow on the surface of the object [3]. That study raises the possibility that microorganisms that are capable of degrading epoxy exist.
Epoxy resin, with a non-toxic formula and low odor, is safe for indoor use as it emits minimal volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and poses less risk to indoor air quality.
While their use has been widespread for many years, both polyurethane and epoxy resins have been shown to contain carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic chemicals (CMR substances) that can be dangerous to the people who work with them.
Use a Heat Source
Applying heat directly to the resin using heat guns or handheld torches is essential to hasten curing. Additionally, consider increasing the ambient room temperature by 10°C, which can halve the curing time.
While you can use vinegar on epoxy surfaces, it's important to note that vinegar often contains high levels of acetic acid, which can vary by product. Frequent use of vinegar, due to its acetic acid content, may gradually soften or deteriorate the epoxy finish, potentially leading to a dulled or "cloudy" appearance.
Do not mix your epoxies in unclean pails. Always use clean pails to mix your epoxy in. Do not spread epoxy with a foam or sponge spreader. Do not forget to get all your questions answered before starting your job.
Most other reputable resin brands should last for at least 5 years—again with proper care—before needing to be refreshed. The important thing is to avoid unfamiliar brands, especially those sold by 3rd-parties on open marketplaces such as Amazon, eBay, etc.
Adding 5% lacquer thinner to epoxy reduces epoxy's compressive strength by 35%. As such, it's no longer suitable as a structural adhesive. Adding a solvent can extend curing time, making your work unpredictable. Adding a solvent can cause the epoxy to shrink and crack over time.
But is there something better? Of course there is! It's polyurea! Roughly 40 years ago, polyurea as we know it today arrived and became known for its strength and durability, making it an ideal coating solution in the industrial community.
While great at resisting water, epoxy resin isn't entirely waterproof. If you keep epoxy submerged in water for a long time, it may allow penetration. However, it's possible to make epoxy resin as close to being waterproof as possible by ensuring proper surface preparation and using professional application techniques.