The Science Behind Epoxy Resin's Hardness

The secret to an epoxy floor's durability.

Epoxy resin is the perfect culmination of art and science. Its growing success is due in part to the amazing strength and durability it holds. But how hard is epoxy resin after all? And what's the secret to its strength? This article will help you understand all you need to know about the strength of epoxy!

Epoxy Resin Explained

Epoxy resin is a polymer that's extremely strong and durable, making it popular in any space, especially ones that need a stronger solution. Installers combine different chemicals & materials to form an incredible resin. While it starts as just a simple liquid that can be poured easily, the true strength comes after it's fully dried and cured. After curing, it can withstand significant levels of stress or pressure. Epoxy is especially strong when it's installed on a solid, well-prepared concrete base!

What Makes Epoxy So Strong?

The remarkable strength of epoxy resin is due to its impressive molecular structure. Long chains of molecules in the resin structure form interlocking bonds with one another. These strong bond are responsible for epoxy's extremely durable quality, as well as its resistance to tearing, scratching and more!

In addition to these bonds, the curing process itself allows for epoxy to sink into the foundation, solidifying inside and on top of your flooring surface. This is why you often see installers perform an acid etching on a concrete surface to prepare it for epoxy. The more porous the surface, within some limits, the better the bond will be.

Epoxy's Limitations

Though epoxy resin is incredibly strong, it does have some limitations. For instance, cured epoxy has a low tensile strength. This means that if significant pressure is applied in one direction, epoxy can break or deform. Another limitation of epoxy to keep in consideration is climate. Extreme conditions, such as sudden and rapid climate shifts, or extreme weather otherwise, can cause chipping or cracking in an epoxy floor. Epoxy is also chemical resistant, but even epoxy will fold under extremely harsh chemical spills.

How Hard is Epoxy Resin?

Two things that you should know about epoxy resin are its high tensile strength and compressive strengths. The first one will tell us if it can withstand lots of pressure and stretching without breaking. The second tells us how much weight an object would need to apply before we see any signs of damage (in this case, creases). In both of these measurements, epoxy resin is a step above many of the flooring alternatives you could choose from. Epoxy can withstand pressures of over 10,000 PSI!

Learn To Maximize Your Epoxy Strength!

Our Epoxy Classes program is specifically designed to help up-and-coming contractors find success in this booming industry! The 5-day program will guide you through all of the fundamentals of an epoxy installation, so you can be ready with a running start. Sign up today!

Conclusion

Some of the most durable and strong materials on earth are made with epoxy resin. Whether you need a floor that will last for years or protection against corrosion, there's no better choice than this amazing product! Epoxy resin has incredible resistance to wear-and tear, so your investment stays protected in every way—what more could anyone ask?

Our veteran support team is only a phone call away at (954) 287-3797! From DIY guidance to professional assistance, we can do it all. Use our EpoxyETC online store to buy the best quality products at competitive rates.