Epoxy Shelf Life Query

[Steve Kidson]

I have some epoxy resin that seems to have separated out in its container.

The bottom of the container has gone white and solid, however, it looks like the resin has crystalised. Note that this is the resin only, has not been mixed or contaminated with hardner.

The company that I bought it from has closed down, and I wanted to know if the portion still liquid will be OK, or should I just throw the whole lot out.

It is probably about 12 months old and I have about 2 litres left; always stored in cabinet in my factory, and is in a resealable, air tight container.

I mixed a small sample batch and applied it to an offcut of the surface I want to coat and it appears OK, but wanted to know if anyone else has had this happen.

Any advice or comments welcome.

Fair winds

Steve

[Alan Wheeler]

Yep it happens. Usually if the resin has sat fro sometime in the cold. Put the container into another larger container and pour hot water around it. The heat will melt the crystals and you will have epoxy Resin again.

[seafox]

The resin should last for ages. It is the hardner that goes off.

[bill good]

I've think the stock I've got is from the same supplier & the answer is to warm the container up in water. I suspect the cold weather is behind the white.
Regards Bill Goodward

[Thermal]

I second that about the cold weather. I have some epoxy resin here in Hawaii thats several years old and still fine, but bought some of the same stuff last winter that I kept in the mountains of So. Cal. Had a few nights that dropped to -20 deg and most of it turned into white crystals. Stirring it dissolved some of the crystals and the liquid worked fine. The hot water bath sounds like an excellent idea.
And yes, my hardener turns brown with time, but still works fine.