When it comes to bonding things together, many types of glue and adhesives are available in different forms; however, the two commonly employed adhesives are Epoxy glue and Resin glue.
Key Takeaways
- Epoxy is an adhesive consisting of two parts, a resin and a hardener, which are mixed to create a strong, durable bond; the resin is a liquid polymer used for casting, coating, or laminating various surfaces.
- Epoxy can be used as an adhesive, coating, or filler for various materials, including metal, wood, and plastic; the resin is used for decorative or functional purposes, such as creating jewellery, artwork, or table surfaces.
- Epoxy has a shorter working time than resin and requires careful mixing and application; resin has a longer working time and can be used to create more intricate designs.
Epoxy vs. Resin
Epoxy is an adhesive that does not contain solvent. It is used in construction due to its strong adhesive nature and less dry time. It is resistant to heat, water, and chemicals. Resin is a liquid polymer made from different materials that take more time to dry. It is suitable for coating.
Epoxy glue is an adhesive based on petroleum that is solvent free and resistant to water and chemicals; it remains unaffected by heat conditions. It is known for its strong bonding and quick-drying property.
On the other hand, resin glue is a solvent-based adhesive obtained as the final product by mixing raw epoxy resin, solvent, catalyst, and hardening agents. It provides a strong bond, but it is weaker than the bond of the epoxy glue.
While resin refers to the final product or glue made by mixing epoxy resin, the raw material, a solvent, and a hardening agent, resin glue comes in two forms, powder, and liquid, but it takes around 8 to 10 hours to dry or cure.
Comparison Table
| Parameter of Comparison | Epoxy | Resin |
|---|---|---|
| Basic definition | Epoxy is a solvent-free, water and chemical-resistant adhesive well known for its bonding quality. Epoxy remains intact in conditions of heat. | Resin glue is a final product and a mixture of epoxy resin, solvent, catalyst, and a hardening agent. |
| Drying time | One of the most important advantages of epoxy glue is its drying time. It takes only about six to thirty minutes to dry; thus, it is more used in cases where instant bonding is required. | The drying time of resin glue is one of its drawbacks. It takes about eight to ten hours to dry. |
| Strength of the bond | Epoxy is best known for its bonding quality; an epoxy bond has the capability to hold up to two thousand lbs per square inch. | Resin is also known for its strong bond but has less strength than the epoxy bond. The bond of the resin glue can hold less than five hundred lbs per square inch. |
| Used in | Epoxy is widely used in the infrastructure, shipbuilding, and aircraft industries. It is also used in bonding metals, plastics, woods, etc., where an instant bond is required for the assembly. | Due to its cost-effectiveness, Resin is used in the construction industry, where they have enough time to let it dry; it is an ideal adhesive for wood bondings, where there is no requirement for instant assembly. |
| Cost | Epoxy adhesive is, however, costlier than resin glue. | Resin is more used in various industries because of its low cost. |
What is Epoxy?
Epoxy glue is an adhesive based on petroleum products. It does not contain any solvent and is also moisture and chemical resistant.
Epoxy remains intact in case of conditions of heat. It has a suffocating odor; therefore, applying it in properly ventilated areas is advised.
The major advantage of epoxy glue is its drying time. It takes only about six to thirty minutes to dry. Thus, it is more used in areas where instant bonding is required.
It provides the strongest bond, up to 2000 lbs per square inch. It has a longer shelf life and can remain as it is for several years.
It is costlier than other adhesives.
Epoxy is widely used in the infrastructure, automobile, shipbuilding, and aircraft industries. It can also bond metals, plastic, and wooden products.
What is Resin?
Resin is a glue obtained as the final product after mixing raw epoxy resin, a solvent, catalyst, and hardening agent. The odor of the resin glue is pleasant.
It is available in the market as liquid and powder. The drawback of resin glue is its drying time.
It takes about 8 to 10 hours to dry. However, the atmospheric temperature, the earlier it dries.
The bond of resin glue is weaker than that of epoxy glue and can hold only up to 500 lbs per square inch. It is cheaper than epoxy glue.
Resin glue is used more in areas with enough time to let it dry. It is used in the construction industry.
It is more suitable for bonding wooden products.
Main Differences Between Epoxy and Resin
- Epoxy is an adhesive based on petroleum products and is water and chemical resistant, while the resin is made by mixing raw epoxy resin, solvent, and hardening agent.
- Epoxy has a bad odor, while resin glue has a pleasant smell.
- Epoxy adhesive is solvent-free, while resin adhesive contains a solvent.
- Epoxy glue is known for its quick drying property, whereas resin glue takes a long time to dry.
- Epoxy takes only about six to thirty minutes to dry; on the other hand, resin glue takes eight to ten hours to dry.
- Epoxy glue tends to harden much faster than resin glue.
- Epoxy is used in areas requiring an instant assembly, while resin is used where there is no requirement.
- Regarding bonding, both adhesives are strong; however, epoxy is much stronger than resin glue.
- The bond of the epoxy glue has the strength to hold up to 2000 lbs per square inch, while the bond of resin glue has the strength to hold a maximum of 500 lbs per square inch.
- Epoxy being the strongest adhesive, is expensive; on the other hand, resin glue is much cheaper than epoxy glue.
- Epoxy glue is resistant to wear, corrosion, and damage, while resin glue is fragile and more suitable for low-strain uses.
- Epoxy glue has a longer shelf life than resin glue and can last several years.
- https://www.ajodo.org/article/0002-9416(65)90203-4/pdf
- https://patents.google.com/patent/US5290857A/en
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