Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Grits

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
154
Hello Everyone:

I have read epoxy resins will not stick to polyester resins vise versa. I see products labels that state the opposite.

Would someone be kind enough to shed some light on this subject.

Thanks you,

Grits
 

oops!

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Oct 18, 2007
Messages
12,932
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

hang in there grits

im look for the same info too....

ondarivr really knows this stuff....he will prob be back on tomm...but lots of other guys here can tell us

oops
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,095
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Ayuh,......

Basically,... Epoxy will stick to about Anything,.......
Polyester Won't......

The Only way,+ it's not really a Good way, to make Polyester stick to Epoxy,...
Is to Rough Sand the Epoxy,... Then you get a Little bit of Mechanical bond......

Epoxy is a Glue,......
Polyester is a Casting resin......
 

SgtMaj

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
1,997
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

I have your solution, let me spill poly resin on it, then you just spread it around the way you want it...

Poly seems to stick like there's no tomorrow to anything I spill it on... :eek:

:D
 

QC

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 22, 2005
Messages
22,783
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Actually the Glen-L Epoxy manual I have says that it is not really a problem and that all of their tests say go for it. However, they recommend that the Poly surface be roughed up and that they do NOT specifically recommend it as the weld is, like wood, stronger than the Poly. Their concern is that if is used structurally the Poly layers may separate and that there would be a failure of the weaker portions of the Fiberglass system . . . Here's what it says . . .

(*) NOTE: Epoxy will stick with great tenacity to properly prepared fiberglass laminates or structures (such as existing boat hulls) made from polyester resin. However, one should not count only on the epoxy in this instance where the bonded component will be subjected to stress. The reason is that the epoxy will be so strong that a failure may occur in the actual fiberglass laminate itself (as opposed to the polyester/epoxy bond interface) resulting in damage to the laminate and/or get coat. Such junctions should be mechanically fastened as well whenever possible. Fiberglass surfaces should be prepared by thorough sanding to remove any gloss, paint, dirt, oil, or grease, and left with a roughened resin surface (take care NOT to cut into the actual fiberglass reinforcement).

"http://www.glen-l.com/supplies/pxman-use.html"
 

ondarvr

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 6, 2005
Messages
11,527
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Although it may be possible for the epoxy to be "too strong", it's not something you really need to worry about for the type of repairs being done in this forum.
Although epoxy is great stuff, you won't see much of a difference in the end result if you use it or polyester resin. The polyester resin in thirty year old boats is holding them together just fine, the wood may rot away, but the boat stays in one piece. To get the most out of epoxy, fibers other than glass need to be used and the part needs to be well engineered to take full advantage of what the epoxy and high end fibers can do.

Just remember not to use polyester over epoxy.
 

Lone Duck

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Oct 17, 2007
Messages
868
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

In short epoxy will bond fairly well to poly. poly will not stick to epoxy. Nuff said.
 

Grits

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
154
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Thanks Everyone. I know the feeling about spilling something that should not stick but does beyond belief.

I guess I should not do a repair with epoxy and then use gelcoat on top of the epoxy.

I have seen the West Epoxy system but not looked into it in detail. How do they use an epoxy and then gelcoat over it?

Thanks again,

Grits
 

SgtMaj

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 19, 2007
Messages
1,997
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

hmm, I have actually found that poly sticks pretty well to epoxy. Maybe not as well as it sticks to other poly, as it may be able to establish chemical bonds between poly resins, but only a mechanical bond with epoxy, but I've got a few patches of epoxy that I've poly'd over, and it's sticking just fine so far.
 

BillP

Captain
Joined
Aug 10, 2002
Messages
3,290
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

Thanks Everyone. I know the feeling about spilling something that should not stick but does beyond belief.

I guess I should not do a repair with epoxy and then use gelcoat on top of the epoxy.

I have seen the West Epoxy system but not looked into it in detail. How do they use an epoxy and then gelcoat over it?

Thanks again,

Grits

WEST says it can be done but they don't mfg their resin. Also, their testing was on one sample over a very short period of time. Had the sample been put to task the results may have been different. Just about any coating will sit on top of another if it isn't stressed.

There are only a handful in the boating industry that say to do poly over epoxy. Otherwise, virtually all the epoxy and polyester mfgs and pro glassers say not to do it. Take your choice who to believe but I'm not doing poly over epoxy until mfgs say ok.
 

Grits

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Nov 20, 2007
Messages
154
Re: Compatibility of Epoxy and Poly

I am with you Bill, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it".

Thanks,

Grits
 
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