Temperature is one of the most important factors to keep in mind when working with epoxy resin. Incorrect temperatures of the working environment and resin can cause various issues with your projects.
What is the recommended temperature?
The temperature when working with resin should not be lower than 20 °C and higher than 25–27 °C. The higher the temperature, the faster the resin projects will cure. It may seem like an advantage, but working in higher temperatures risks an exothermic reaction. Maintaining a constant recommended temperature is critical especially in the first 24 hours.
What to do in the summer months?
As it gets warmer, monitor the temperature in your workspace and also the weather forecast to ensure the temperature does not exceed the maximum of 27 degrees. We recommend having a thermometer in the workspace so you can monitor the temperature during curing, not just during casting.
Also, make sure that both components A and B are stored in the same conditions in which you will be casting. We do not recommend storing resin in a sunny place not only due to the potential loss of its properties but also because of its heating before casting, which would speed up the curing process.
Is there a difference if I mix 50 g or 5 kg?
Resin belongs to the group of thermosetting plastics, which means they cure through a chemical reaction that is often exothermic (releases heat). The larger the amount of resin and hardener mixed, the more heat is released. For resins and hardeners, this reaction accelerates with increasing temperature. Larger amounts of resin have a larger volume where the exothermic reaction takes place. This means that the generated heat cannot easily dissipate into the surroundings and accumulates inside the material. This effect is especially noticeable in large volumes where the surface-to-volume ratio is relatively low. So yes, there is a difference. The key is to give the resin such conditions that this reaction proceeds in a controlled manner.
How to reduce the temperature in the workspace?
Ventilate, turn on a fan, or ideally an air conditioner. If you are unable to lower the temperature, cast in the evening or at night when temperatures are generally lower.
Can I work with resin outdoors?
We do not recommend working with resin outdoors. The reason is the mentioned maintenance of the temperature in the range of 20 – 27 °C. It can also happen that various impurities and insects fall into your project. Another problem is, for example, high humidity or even rain, which will damage the resin.