Epoxy putty: the pros and cons

On the modern building materials market there is a wide variety of special mixtures that have different purposes and principles of use. Among the huge range of proposed building materials, you should pay attention to epoxy putty, which is used when performing finishing work. With the help of such a mixture, small cracks, sinks, scratches can be reliably sealed, and the surface can be leveled from various materials.

Epoxy putty has a two-component composition, including the following substances:

• epoxy resin with a filler in the form of fiberglass or metal shavings;
• hardener.

Mixing of these materials should be carried out immediately before the start of the spackling work. Very important in this process is the strict observance of the instructions provided by the manufacturer. Hurrying in the process of mixing epoxy putty does not make sense, since its composition will polymerize for 8 hours.

Epoxy putty gained recognition and widespread in modern construction thanks to the following number of inherent positive properties:

• lack of smell;
• moisture resistance;
• coating strength;
• minimum shrinkage rates;
• resistance to aggressive liquids;
• ease of grinding;
• durability of use.

Due to the non-particularly rapid solidification of the solution, it is possible to thoroughly mix its components to obtain a homogeneous consistency. Also one of the advantages of epoxy putty is the quality of application, which allows to proceed to further surface finishing without additional priming. Solvents cannot be used to preserve the basic properties of the mixture.

Epoxy putty is known not only for its high level of resistance to mechanical stress and the destructive effect of chemical compounds, but also for its ability to resist the appearance of fungus and mold. These properties explain the popularity of the use of the considered composition for not only internal but also external construction work.

When choosing epoxy putty, you should pay attention to its labeling, which determines the basic properties of the composition. The most popular are the following materials:

• VC-0020;
• VC-0010.

Each of the listed compositions due to its special characteristics is used to solve certain problems and has its own recommendations regarding the rules of use.

Epoxy putty of this marking is used mainly for the purpose of leveling the surface of products from various materials. On sale it can usually be found in the form of a thick pasty composition, which is brought to a liquid state by mixing with hardener No. 1 or diethylenetriamine.

The main characteristics of the putty mix allow you to use it both indoors and outdoors. The composition is applied both on the primed surface of the product, and without prior priming. The average period of complete polymerization of a primer at ambient temperature of 18-22 ° C is about a day, and when the temperature rises to 60-70 ° C - 7 hours.

The material under consideration can be applied to almost any surface. It is worth noting that EP-0010 epoxy primer has rather high elasticity, but with full drying it forms a durable, smooth layer of red-brown color.

Epoxy putty with EP-0020 marking has a fine-dispersed filler structure, which ensures cost effectiveness of the composition for processing products of a certain area.

The main purpose of epoxy based putty is to finish surfaces with a varied structure. It can be used to process concrete, wood, ceramics, plastic and metal. Therefore, the use of such compositions is quite diverse and captures almost all spheres of human activity.

Compositions for working with wooden products are intended primarily to minimize the compression and expansion of the material under the influence of temperature or moisture. The main difference between such a substance is to minimize shrinkage after drying, as well as maintaining an optimal level of elasticity.

Such a coating is excellent sanding and can be painted in the color you need. Used epoxy putty for wood for the following tasks:

• floor repair;
• sealing cracks, scratches and gouges;
• processing of furniture and other interior elements.

For leveling metal surfaces, the optimal solution is to use epoxy putty for rapid curing, which has excellent adhesion and is easy to finish sanding. Therefore, this material is in high demand in mechanical engineering.

The main secret of successful work with epoxy putty for a metal surface is the use of a solution with the use of a filler in the form of the smallest sawdust from the same material, such as aluminum, tin or steel.

In the automotive industry, putty with epoxy resin is used for long-term preservation of the car or treatment of the vehicle body in places of its severe damage. The main advantage of the material is the ability to protect the processed raw materials from the damaging effects of rust that occurs at high humidity.

The composition of epoxy putty for concrete as a filler usually includes not only cement, but also coarse sand, which contributes to an increase in the adhesion of the treated surface to the work carried out in the future.After impregnation of the material under consideration, the concrete surfaces acquire a rough structure and are ready to apply plaster.

Due to plasticity and excellent adhesion indicators, it is possible to use epoxy resin putty for the restoration of plastic surfaces. Due to the excellent properties and characteristics of the solution in question is used to restore PVC pipes and some elements of automotive technology.

Before applying the putty to the plastic part, do not forget to degrease it with a special solvent. It is desirable to apply the soil to the surface or replace it with a special mixture.

Epoxy putty with fiberglass differs quite simple way to use, because for a quality surface repair enough to stick following recommendations:

• Before processing, the product should be thoroughly cleaned from dust and dirt.
• If oily stains are present, they must be removed.
• Ready putty mixture is applied to the product with a brush, roller or spatula. The spray is not suitable for all types of epoxy solution.
• The applied layer of putty must be dried before complete polymerization, which takes 6-8 hours.
• If necessary, the treated surface can be sanded using emery paper.
• When applying the putty for coarse finishing, do not forget to additionally treat the product with a layer of the finishing compound, which has a smaller filler structure.

Today there is a wide variety of epoxy putties on the building materials market, which differ not only by the manufacturer, but also by the composition characteristics.The average consumer is quite difficult to determine the choice of the composition of a suitable brand at an adequate cost.

It is not a secret for anybody that it is precisely the reputation of the manufacturer on the world market and its good reputation that often play a decisive role in the selection of materials for repair and carrying out putty work. Often, well-known brands offer truly high-quality and reliable compounds that will help you quickly achieve the expected result and will not make you face unforeseen difficulties, such as cracking or uneven coating.

The most well-known trademarks of epoxy putty are materials from the following manufacturers:

• Creps;
• Gypsum polymer;
• Ceresit;
• Bergauf;
• Knauf;
• Novol Thermo;
• Volma;
• Sea Line.

When choosing a putty mixture of 250 grams for solving your tasks, you should pay attention to the following characteristics of the products offered:

• destination;
• marking;
• availability of certificates of quality compliance;
• recognition of the manufacturer in the global market;
• material consumption per square meter of surface;
• cost;
• consumer reviews.

Epoxy putty is a universal compound for sealing cracks and irregularities in almost any material - wood, concrete, plastic, metal. To obtain the desired result, you only need to choose the type of solution and adhere to the recommendations provided by the manufacturer regarding its use.

Also, basic precautions should be taken into account, for example, do not use flammable material in the vicinity of open fire, use personal protective equipment in the form of rubber gloves and respirators, avoid contact of toxic composition with the skin and keep the putty out of the reach of children.

You will learn more about the use of epoxy putty in the following video.