What Is an Epoxy Resin Putty?
Epoxy resin putty is a paste-like mixture of synthetic resin emulsion, pigment, and filler as the main ingredients.
Although synthetic resin emulsion putty is in paste form, it dries and hardens over time. The drying time depends on the temperature and humidity of the environment in which the epoxy resin putty is used, so it is best to check the degree of drying by touch.
The advantage is that it is easy to handle, while the disadvantage is that its strength is weak and the places where it can be used are limited.
Uses of Epoxy Resin Putty
Because of its weak strength, epoxy resin putty is often used as a finishing material or underlayment.
It is mainly used as a base for finishing the surface of materials such as plywood, asbestos slate, gypsum board, mortar, and concrete with synthetic resin emulsion paint. On construction sites, it is often used to fill in nail holes in the joints between the nail holes and the joints between the gypsum boards before wallpaper is applied.
When used as a finishing material, it is used in places where it is unlikely to be exposed to moisture, such as rainwater. It is often used for the purpose of repairing walls, especially in general households.
Types of Epoxy Resin Putties
There are two types of epoxy resin putty: general type and water-resistant type.
1. General Type
General type is characterized by adhesion strength of 2.5 kgf/cm2 or higher (24.5 N/cm2 or higher). Since there are no standards for water resistance or alkali resistance, which are weak points of epoxy resin putty, many of them are vulnerable to moisture.
2. Water-Resistant Type
The water-resistant type not only has stronger adhesion strength of 5.0 kgf/cm2 or more (49.0 N/cm2 or more) than the general type, but also has standards for water resistance and alkali resistance. Therefore, among epoxy resin putties, this product is specialized in water and alkali resistance.
3. For Thin Coatings and Thick Coatings
General type and water-resistant type are also classified into two types: one for thin application with a maximum thickness of 0.5 mm per coating, and the other for thick application with a maximum thickness of 1.5 mm per coating. The time required for drying differs greatly, with the thin coating type requiring up to 5 hours to dry and the thick coating type requiring up to 24 hours. Depending on the type of putty used, some thick-application putties can also be used as thin-application putties, so they can be used in different ways depending on the application.
Characteristics of Epoxy Resin Putty
Epoxy resin putty has advantages and disadvantages in terms of where it can and cannot be used, its application, handling, and workability, so it must be used according to its intended purpose.
Advantages
Synthetic resin emulsion putty is a material suitable for indoor use. Some do not need to be kneaded with water, and can be used without worrying about the mixing ratio, etc. The easy handling makes it easy to use even for DIY beginners.
Some putty is not easily thinned by drying or cracked when filling screw holes or joints. Some fillers are highly abrasive and can be easily sanded with sandpaper, making them easy to work with.
Disadvantages
Epoxy resin putty cannot be used outdoors or outside. This is because condensation causes the epoxy resin putty to peel when used outdoors or outside. Therefore, it cannot be used to prepare mortar or concrete surfaces outdoors. Because of its lack of strength, although it can be used for finished surfaces, it cannot be used for repairs that require the strength of the structure itself, such as no-shrink mortar.
Because it is not a material that hardens through a chemical reaction, once a container is opened and use begins, it may dry out and become unusable. Therefore, care should be taken with the amount used and storage method.
How to Use Epoxy Resin Putty
Some epoxy resin putty can be diluted with water, while others can be used without dilution. Most of them can be used immediately after opening the container. Some of them can be used without dilution, but they are sometimes diluted to soften the putty before use in order to make it easier to work with.
The best places to use putty are screw holes and joints in gypsum board, and uneven or uneven indoor concrete surfaces. Apply epoxy resin putty to the area where you want to make a base using a spatula.
After the applied epoxy resin putty dries, sandpaper is used to polish the surface to create a smooth base.
Depending on the type of epoxy resin putty used, the putty may become thin or cracked due to the thickness of the coating or the degree of dilution. It is recommended to check the characteristics of the epoxy resin putty to be used when actually working with the putty.