Polyepoxide, more commonly known as epoxy, acts as everything from a filler to a coating or adhesive. Epoxy consists of a viscous liquid resin and a chemical hardener that works to quickly cure the material into a hardened plastic that features exceptional strength, chemical resistance, and dimensional stability. It can adhere to a wide range of substrates, including glass, metal, wood, stone, and concrete, making it a versatile choice for various industries and applications.
Compared to other adhesive and coating options, epoxy offers the following key benefits:
- No VOCs and low toxicity
- Affordable
- Resistant to chemicals and solvents
- Adherence to numerous substrates
- High strength
- Minimal shrinkage during curing
Epoxy Uses in Manufacturing and Industry
Because it has so many positive characteristics and is easy to work with, epoxy is used across multiple different industries to coat or bond materials. These industries include:
Composite Materials Manufacturing
Because of its many desirable properties, epoxy has been widely adopted into composites manufacturing. It can be combined with other materials, such as carbon fiber, to create durable, long-lasting composites. By binding to the composite materials, epoxy can enhance the properties of carbon fiber to produce a high-performance material that features excellent mechanical strength, high-temperature resistance, and chemical resistance.
Electronics
Electronics manufacturers use epoxy coatings to protect circuit boards and fragile electronic parts from environmental hazards such as dust and moisture. It can also be used to dissipate heat away from sensitive components, or as an adhesive to bind electrical components together. Because of these capabilities, epoxy helps to improve the lifespan and reliability of electronic devices.
Aerospace and Aviation
Its versatility and adaptability make epoxy an ideal choice for various aerospace applications, including hardware fabrication for spacecraft, enhancing flame retardancy, reinforcement for space suits, and more. Other spacecraft and aviation applications for epoxy include:
- Sealing
- Staking
- Encapsulating
- Potting
- Coating
- Bonding various mechanical, electronic, and structural components
Automotive and Transportation
Epoxy’s durability, strength, and resistive properties make it a popular choice for the automotive and transportation industry. It can be used to repair, coat, or bond automotive components while also protecting them from abrasion and corrosion. Epoxy is also used in the manufacture of composite materials that are used for suspension components and drive shafts.
Marine and Boating
Due to its resistance to salt, water, and other harsh environmental conditions, epoxy is a common choice for the marine and boating industry. It is often used for sealing purposes and as a structural adhesive during boat building. It can also be applied as a protective coating when repairing decks, hulls, and underwater boating surfaces. These protective qualities allow epoxy to boost the longevity and durability of various marine structures.
Epoxy Uses in Construction and Home Improvement
Epoxy is a very strong and durable material, making it a popular choice for various construction and home improvement applications. Common uses include:
- Coating decorative flooring such as terrazzo, aggregate flooring, and chip flooring.
- Countertop coating
- Waterproofing
- Repairing concrete cracks and surface blemishes
Epoxy Uses in Arts and Crafts
Professional artists and hobbyists use epoxy resin to create a wide array of artistic pieces. Artists prefer epoxy because of its ability to adhere to multiple different substrates as well as its glossy, clear finish after curing. Common applications include:
- Jewelry Making: Artists can coat resin, clay, or other breakable jewelry materials with epoxy to make them stronger, more resistant to damage, and more visually appealing. They can also use it as an adhesive for adhering stones or other pieces of material to jewelry elements.
- Painting: Painters can coat finished works with epoxy to make them longer-lasting and to make the colors more vibrant.
- Sculpture: Sculptors might use epoxy as an adhesive for stone, metal, or wood configurations. It also acts as a filler and a coating to give finished sculptures a smooth look and feel.
- Woodworking: Epoxy can fill the natural gaps and cracks of wood, as well as coat finished goods with a glossy surface.
Copps: Epoxy Experts
At Copps Industries, we’ve spent over 40 years formulating and delivering high-quality epoxy products and solutions that our clients can trust. We have over 500 unique products and 400 customers across 27 countries. Specializing in private label services, our experts can develop custom epoxy formulations to meet your specific needs all while providing excellent customer service. Contact us today to find the right epoxy solution for your next project, or request a quote to start your order.
