What is epoxy and what are its uses?

Epoxy is a family of main components or baked final products of epoxy resins. Epoxy resin, also known as polyepoxides, is a class of reactive prepolymers and polymers that contain epoxide groups. The epoxide functional group is also collectively called epoxy.

Epoxy resins may be polymerized by themselves through catalytic copolymerization or with a wide range of reagents including polyfunctional amines, acids (and acid anhydrides), Phenols, alcohols and thiols (usually mercaptans) react. These co-reactants are often referred to as hardeners, and the cross-linking reaction is commonly referred to as curing.

Applications of epoxy-based materials are broad and include coatings and flooring, adhesives, and composite materials such as those using carbon fiber and fiberglass reinforcements (although polyester, vinyl ester, and other thermoset resins are also used for glass-reinforced plastics. will be). The chemistry of epoxies and the wide range of commercially available modifications allows the production of curing polymers with a wide range of properties.

In general, epoxies are characterized by excellent adhesion, chemical and thermal resistance, good mechanical properties. They are known for their excellent and very good electrical insulation properties. Many properties of epoxies can be modified (for example, silver-filled epoxies are available with good electrical conductivity, although epoxies are usually electrically insulating). Varieties offering high thermal insulation, or thermal conductivity combined with high electrical resistance, are available for electronic applications.

Generally, grouts are divided into two categories: expanded cement-based grout and two-component and three-component epoxy grout. Epoxy grout is placed in the three-component grout category. Epoxy grout has higher resistance and quality than cement-based grouts. Aggregates, fillers, fibers, cement, various resins and other special additives are used in making epoxy grout.

This grout can be used on vertical and horizontal surfaces. Also, since this product has high fluidity, it can be used to fill places that are not easily accessible. Weights that are subjected to high static pressure are used. Among the other applications of this grout, we can mention their use in installing rebar inside concrete in order to increase the strength and expand the surface of the structure.

Epoxy flooring is an example of polymer flooring and can be used on all kinds of surfaces. The best surface that can be used for this flooring model is concrete surfaces. One of the advantages of using epoxy flooring is their insulation against moisture and heat. Despite its low thickness, epoxy flooring is very resistant to chemicals. Hospital flooring and sports hall flooring are examples of the most widely used.

Two-part epoxy coatings are built for heavy duty on metal substrates and use less energy than heated powder coatings. These systems provide a hard and protective coating with excellent hardness. One-part epoxy coatings are formulated as an emulsion in water and can be cleaned without solvents.

Epoxy coatings are often used in industrial and automotive applications because they are more heat resistant than latex and alkyd based paints. Epoxy paints tend to degrade due to UV exposure, known as "casting".
One of the best examples is the system of using solvent-free epoxies for priming ships during construction. was, this system used a spray system without hot air with premixing in the head. This solved the problem of solvent retention under the film, which later caused adhesion problems.

Flexible epoxy resins are used for potted transformers and inductors. Using vacuum impregnation on uncured epoxy, air voids are eliminated from coil to coil, coil to core, and coil to insulation. Curing epoxy is an electrical insulator and a much better conductor of heat than air. The hot spots of the transformer and inductor are greatly reduced and give the part a stable and longer life compared to the potless product.

Epoxies can be used to seal selected layers in a tank that produces excessive salt water. The name of this method is "water cut treatment". Of course, epoxy floors are also widely used in petrochemicals and refineries.

In the aerospace industry, epoxy is used as a structural matrix material that is then reinforced by fiber. Common fiber reinforcements include glass, carbon, Kevlar, and boron. Epoxies are also used as structural adhesives. Materials such as wood and other low-tech materials are bonded with epoxy resin. Epoxies generally perform better than most other types of resins in terms of mechanical properties and resistance to environmental degradation.