Epoxy, epoxy resins, and epoxy adhesives appear and become a powerful tool to make life easier. Epoxy glue will help you complete furniture projects, DIY and more quickly and neatly. The benefits that epoxy glue brings are definitely more than you think.
However, not many people really know and understand epoxy glue, so they cannot take full advantage of the benefits that they can get from this glue. That’s why we’ve prepared this article that covers everything you need to know about epoxy glue and includes a list of the strongest epoxy for metal & wood that we’ve handpicked.
What is epoxy glue?
Epoxy adhesive is formed from a polymerization reaction between its two main components, resin, and hardener. When the resin is mixed with a suitable catalyst, the drying process begins.
Drying is the process by which the molecular bands actively react chemically, thereby creating an exothermic reaction. It is also the covalent bond between the resin and the catalyst (or hardener) that will determine the strength and adhesion of the Epoxy glue.
Controlling the curing conditions by temperature, and choosing the right two-component epoxy adhesives to make the bonding of different materials no longer a problem for modern industry.
The use of epoxy glue can replace traditional adhesive methods that damage the surface of the product such as drilling, chiseling, and screwing. Epoxy glue still has good resistance to external factors such as high temperature, impact, contact with water, chemicals, etc.
How to classify epoxy glue?
Known as the most commonly used structural adhesive, epoxy adhesives commonly used are of two main types, single-part epoxy and two-component epoxy.
#1 One-part Epoxy Glue
For the one-part epoxy adhesive system, the hardener (catalyst) is already present in the glue and only medium temperature (higher than ambient temperature) is needed to dry the glue. This improves adhesion efficiency and avoids errors caused by gas trapping. Besides, the drying speed is also faster than that of two-part glue, so it is often called a quick-drying epoxy glue, fast glue.
#2 Two-part Epoxy Glue
The other two-part epoxy adhesive system is at the drying temperature of the adhesive, drying will occur when the bond is exposed to ambient temperature. However, it can also be accelerated by high temperatures. The adhesive’s drying speed can be adjusted by temperature, which is suitable if the manufacturer is looking for a long-drying epoxy adhesive.
The use of this high temperature also helps the bonding of the glue to have superior properties and good resistance to higher temperatures.
The two-part epoxy adhesive is versatile, used flexibly in both adhesives, fillers and sealants, electronic circuit coatings, and encapsulation in many industries. These can be mentioned as the production of electronic equipment, medical equipment, the production of means of transport such as cars, airplanes, ships, etc.
Outstanding Epoxy Glue Brands & Top 8 Best Epoxy Glue Review
Some reputable epoxy glue manufacturers from the US, Taiwan, Singapore, and more providing quality products and reasonable prices can be mentioned as:
#1 3M Scotch-Weld Epoxy Adhesive DP460 Off-White
3M Epoxy Adhesive DP460 is a super strong and versatile epoxy. DP460 has strong adhesion, high disintegration, and high impact resistance, blended with a ratio of 2:1 to bond well to material surfaces. It can work well with materials such as ceramics, metals, glass, wood, and some plastics.
After fully curing, steel-reinforced epoxy is resistant to heat, acids, petroleum, and chemicals. 3M Epoxy 3M DP460 2-part adhesive has a cure time of 60 minutes and a cure time of 4 hours.
#2 Devcon 62345 Plastic Steel Epoxy
The strongest AB epoxy adhesives will generally have a longer set time. AB Epoxy Devcon Plastic Steel is one of the best choices for all types of metal.
This product contains a steel alloy for an impressive ultimate tensile strength of 2,600 PSI. After mixing the two parts (the kit makes a total of 25 milliliters), it stays active for an hour, dries for 4 to 6 hours, and cures completely in 24 hours. Use on everything from iron, stainless steel to aluminum.
#3 Gorilla 2 Part Epoxy
For jobs that require you to hold the pieces together, quick-setting epoxy is the best choice. Epoxy Gorilla Glue is equipped with two syringes and a piston to dispense both liquids at once in equal quantities from separate nozzles.
The result is a super-strong, transparent epoxy that cures in just five minutes and cures in about a day. When you’re done, simply replace the included cap until you’re ready for your next little project.
#4 J-B Weld 8265S Original Cold-Weld Steel Reinforced Epoxy
J-B Weld Original is a super strong and versatile epoxy that can be used on most surfaces, including metal, plastic, wood, and even concrete. After fully curing, steel-reinforced epoxy is resistant to heat, acids, petroleum, and chemicals.
This product is also completely waterproof and is commonly used in plumbing and boat repairs. It does not require heat to use but will need to sit at room temperature for 4 to 6 hours and fully cure in 24 hours.
#5 Loctite Epoxy Five Minute Instant Mix
Like Gorilla’s product, this epoxy comes in a two-chamber syringe that mixes rosin and hardener by pushing a piston. However, there is only one nozzle, so we recommend using this product only once.
This product is great for quick fixes, as it begins to dry in about five minutes and cures completely in less than 24 hours to create a super-strong bond. Since the small tip allows for precise application, this is an epoxy that is especially handy for reaching tight areas. Gorilla and Loctite are also two popular brands of epoxy iron glue.
#6 Bob Smith Industries BSI-205 Clear Slow-Cure Epoxy
This product fills the gap between the 5-minute fast curing epoxy and the super-strong but slow setting epoxy. After mixing the two parts together, it remains usable for 30 minutes and cures for 8 hours (though it’s best to leave it on overnight).
These two separate parts are easy to maintain, and you can use it the next time. This product doesn’t cause unnecessary mess and it certainly doesn’t get your hands dirty.
#7 Permatex 84101 PermaPoxy 5 Minute General Purpose Epoxy
The big problem with metal epoxy glue is the tensile strength of the cured adhesive. And that’s why I chose Permatex SteelWeld as the number one metal-epoxy for this list. This product provides incredible tensile strength after complete curing. This is actually a two-part epoxy, packaged in a two-tube piston, making this product quite easy to work with as the piston ensures equal parts of the epoxy are delivered for mixing.
It is a very fast-acting adhesive that gives you only four minutes of work time with a full cure in 24 hours. The cured adhesive can be drilled, and sanded and has excellent gap filling capabilities.
#8 Bob Smith Industries BSI-201 Quik-Cure Epoxy
This quick-setting epoxy adhesive from Bob Smith Industries cures to a slightly plastic consistency. This makes it perfect for use in applications with high vibrations or surfaces that are not completely hard.
This adhesive works with a wide variety of substrates, including those that are distinct such as softwoods, hard plastics and white foam. While it doesn’t have the highest tensile strength, it does process quickly, giving you five minutes of work time and ready-to-handle parts in 15 minutes.
It can be coated with a polymer resin without affecting the curing of the resin, which is not possible with all epoxy adhesives. This is also one of the glues suitable for gluing motorbikes or cars.
Is epoxy glue toxic?
Epoxy glue is an organic compound based on composite resin, when hardened or still in a liquid state, it can be toxic to the body. In some cases, when coming into contact with epoxy glue, there are rashes or allergies, especially it will be very dangerous if it gets into the eyes, nose, and mouth. For safety, always wear protective gear such as rubber gloves, and an air filter mask during use.
Besides, there are some epoxy glue lines that are also quite safe because they are used to make food and drink products easily. These safety products are often more expensive than conventional epoxy glue products and are often sourced from countries that prioritize high safety such as the US or Europe.
What should be noted when using epoxy glue?
Only mix a small amount of glue enough for each use, avoid mixing too much when not used all because the glue will harden and can’t be used anymore, a lot of wasted materials.
When mixing AB Epoxy glue, it is necessary to mix the two parts well, mix until the color is uniform.
The surface to be glued must be cleaned and completely removed from dirt, grease and oil stains to avoid affecting the flatness and smoothness of the joint. In addition, to make the glue more durable, you should make sure the surface is completely dry and then apply the glue.
When gluing, be very careful not to spill the glue, which is both wasteful and unsightly. If the glue is accidentally spilled, it should be cleaned up immediately with a towel or cloth.
After applying the glue, it is recommended to fix the glue for 10-15 minutes to avoid the phenomenon of the joint being open, not tight, both unsightly and affecting the quality of the finished product.