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Epoxy Putty, Fillers and Thickeners Page

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Paul Oman, MS, MBA - Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc.

Member: NACE (National Assoc. of Corrosion Engineers), SSPC (Soc. of Protective Coatings)

"Professionals helping Professionals"

Progressive Epoxy Polymers, Inc. is your most diverse source for wide range of epoxy thickeners, additives, and epoxy putties (besides lots of other epoxy paints and marine resins!). In fact, we are well known for your wide range (price and performance) of our marine epoxies. Our epoxy putty and thickeners selection is even greater. Thickened epoxies, like all other epoxies, have unique characteristics (regarding texture, sandability, etc.). I don't know of any other place where different epoxy putties are compared against each other.


This page has three sections. First we compare the epoxy putties, Secondly we discuss the different thickeners, and finally a brief mention of other epoxy fillers.

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I --- EPOXY PUTTIES (comparison table below) Use as putties or epoxy adhesives


QUICK FIX 2300 - our 5 minute underwater epoxy putty. Uses mercaptan for a fast cure, so has a sulfur smell. actual potlife is about 5 - 15 minutes, hard in 20 - 35 minutes. Great for that quick fix or quick 'glue job'. Easy 1 to 1 mix (cream and gray color mixes to a gray). Contains Kevlar (tm) micro-fibers. Non-hazmat to ship. Sold in 2 pint, 2 quart, and 1 gallon units. 10 gallon units upon request.


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WET / DRY 700 - this epoxy is 'nearly' a putty. It is more like 'apple sauce' in thickness and texture and more of a thick coating (applied by trowel or spreader) than a true putty. It is our Flagship repair paste and can be applied underwater as a coating or adhesive. Lots of Kevlar (tm) for strength and a bio cycloaliphatic curing agent for superior performance). Probably goes on at about a half inch or more before sagging. Used with fiberglass cloth for a repair wrap around pipes, etc. The non-haz-mat curing sytem, which means it can be shipped by air and outside the USA, also slows the curing down a little bit. It has a 1 or 2 day 'rubbery' stage, so 'rock hard' takes a few days. Sold in a 1 gallon kit (half gallon part A, half gallon part B) - color is white.

NOTE: WE HAVE TESTED (AND IN SOME CASES ACTUALLY SOLD) SIMILAR EPOXY PRODUCTS. WE THINK WET/DRY 700 IS ONE OF THE BEST. IT IS AVAILABLE IN 1 QUART AND 1 GALLON UNITS, UNLIKE THE COMPETITION WHICH GENERALLY HAS UNIT SIZES NO SMALLER THAN 2 GALLONS. OUR SMALL SIZES (10 GALLON UNITS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE) PERMIT YOU TO TEST AND/OR COMPLETE SMALL PROJECTS WITHOUT SPENDING A LOT. WE HAVE SIMILAR SMALL TEST KIT SIZES OF MANY OF OUR OTHER EPOXIES AS WELL.


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HOME MADE


This section could be anything. Use any of our epoxies, or someone else's, along with our thickeners, to create your own epoxy putty. More of a mess and sort of trial and error until you get what you want, but probably cheaper too.

Crack Coat™ :SEAM SEALER AND BEDDING EPOXY


Designed as a crack or seam sealer/filler for basements and marine applications this flexible epoxy also makes an excellent waterproof, permanent bedding compound. The dark gray epoxy contains high density fillers that enter and block crack and void spaces. Formulated for use in cool (55 degrees or above), damp environments. Its unique viscosity is ideal for crack filling - thick to the point of barely brushable, yet just thick enough to possibly use with a putty knife.

We didn't know were to put this in our catalog so it's actually in Section A-Epoxy paint section instead of here. CLICK HERE TO VISIT


Note: it is not ucommon to use a penetrating epoxy to seal and 'soak-in' and harden surfaces prior to filling them with a putty. Offer offer an excellent penetrating epoxy (ESP 155) that is only approx. 18-20% solvent (some of the competing products are up to 70% solvent!).


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  QUIK FIX WET/DRY 700 (1) HOME-MADE
       
SANDABILITY (2)

5 

4.0

?

SMOOTH (3)

 4

3.5

?

WET ADHESION (4)

 4

YES

NO

DRILLABLE (5)

 4

YES

?

COLOR

gray 

WHITE

?

MIX RATIO

1:1

1:1

 
POTLIFE

  5 - 15 MIN

75-100 MIN

?

       
       
       

5 = BEST


notes:

1 = more of a thickened epoxy coating or repair product than a putty.

2 = how nicely it sands or grinds without turning gummy or soft.

3 = some products have a bit of a texture to them. However, you can cover any of these epoxies with a bit of that smoky poly tarp plastic (like the kind our epoxies come bagged in) and smooth out the epoxy under the plastic. When the epoxy hardens the plastic is peeled off and the resulting surface is 'as smooth as the plastic'. Saves sanding and uses less epoxy.

4 = some products can be applied underwater.

5 = some products are hard enough to safely drill holes in, thread, etc. (note: insert a grease coated bolt/screw into fresh epoxy. Let the epoxy harden and then 'unsrew' the bolt. You will have a perfectly threaded hole).

II --- Epoxy Thickening Agents



FUMED SILICA - known better by one of its brand names - CAB-O-SIL (TM) - this is a very very light and fluffy thickening agent that turns the epoxy white in color. This is the number one thickening agent used. It is so light anf fluffy that it is difficult to mix into the epoxy and tends to form a cloud, coating your hair, clothes and throat.

EZ THICK - a slightly more dense, cellulose based thickener that stirs into the epoxy very easily.

WOOD FLOUR - super fine sawdust. Stirs in easily and gives the mix a nice 'woody' peanut butter look.

ROCK FLOUR - very fine rock dust. Creates 'epoxy rock' for the ultimate hard filler.

MICROSPHERES (MICROBALLONS) - these are tiny glass spheres that look more like dust. Different suppliers sell them is different densities/sizes. Generally used because it makes epoxies easier to sand, however, they also act like mini-ball bearing and lets the thickened epoxy sag and slump.

POLY FIBERS - a fiber pulp that works like internal reinforcement of the epoxy. Some suppliers offer cotton or other natural fibers, but these can 'wick' up water, chemicals, moisture, etc. The best are no pourous poly fibers or kevlar (tm) fibers.


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III --- Epoxy Additives


People add all kinds of things to epoxies to achieve certain results. Add too much and you turn the epoxy into putty - hence the line between additives and thickeners can become a bit vague.


COPPER POWDER - makes a nice copper pigmented epoxy paint if added to a thin epoxy. Some people think it provides anti-fouling properties if added to epoxy and applied below the waterline.

TEFLON - a fine white powder that provides lowers friction and reduces adhesion to the epoxy by other materials. As the epoxy wears or weathers, more teflon powder becomes exposed.

GRAPHITE - added to epoxy for that dark gray/black shimmery look it gives the epoxy and also as a friction reducer on epoxy wear surfaces (such as threaded holes in epoxy, inside centerboard trunks, etc.

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CONTACT INFO - ORDERING - HOW TO REACH US

Already know what you want?

Goto our 1-line product/price summary page MARINE or INDUSTRIAL

Knowledge is Power - We like informed consumers!

Learn the basics of epoxy at our educational EPOXY 101 page - Click Here.

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