What is the difference between water-based epoxy resin and oil-based epoxy resin?

Water-based epoxy resin is a material often used for laying floors in large areas such as sports fields. The same is true for ordinary oil-based epoxy resin, so many friends A question arose, what is the difference between these two materials? Comparing these two materials, which one is better? Today, friends, let’s take a look at the relevant knowledge with the editor.

1. Start with the formula to see the difference

Water-based epoxy resin and matching water-based epoxy resin curing agent are completely diluted with water, do not contain solvents and co-solvents, are non-toxic, odorless, No residue, completely solving the above-mentioned shortcomings and deficiencies of oil-based epoxy resin systems. In recent years, with the advancement of technology, water-based epoxy resin has achieved comprehensive development in all aspects, and its comprehensive performance has reached or exceeded that of ordinary oil-based epoxy resin.

2. Look at the difference from the nature of the material

The water-based and oil-based systems are completely different from the system, and the product is still epoxy resin in essence, so in the water-based and oil-based series of epoxy resin products There are many differences or even complete opposites in the raw material production of water-based epoxy resin and water-based epoxy curing agent; the processing and manufacturing of coatings, adhesives and other products; the coating construction of finished products; and the physical and chemical properties of the final products.

3. Look at the differences from product characteristics

In water-based epoxy systems, water-based epoxy resins are usually made by grafting and emulsifying standard oily liquid or solid epoxy resins. Emulsions are sold as commercial products in the form of emulsions with a solids content of approximately 50%. Usually, water-based epoxy resin emulsion is used directly as component B on site, without dilution, grinding, coloring, or adding additives to the emulsion.

4. Performance differences between the two materials

There are many types of water-based epoxy resin curing agents, and the performance of the curing agent determines the performance of the final epoxy resin composition. The growth rate of water-based epoxy curing agents is larger than that of resins. The molecular weight of the curing agent reaches more than several thousand, and each molecular segment has more than 6-7 active groups that can participate in the cross-linking reaction. Therefore, the water-based epoxy resin curing composition has higher cross-linking density and hardness, faster curing speed, and better tolerance.

5. Physical properties of two materials

Water-based epoxy resin curing agent is usually a viscous, transparent, homogeneous, light-colored epoxy polyamine adduct aqueous solution. Paint making, color mixing, and adding additives are usually performed with water-based epoxy curing agents. Component B can be packaged directly with water-based epoxy resin emulsion. If standard oily liquid 128 epoxy resin is used as component B, active epoxy diluent should be used to appropriately reduce the viscosity in advance.

6. Quality of two materials

Compared with ordinary oil-based epoxy resin compositions, water release is a major issue with water-based epoxies, especially for thicker coatings or fill layers. For thicker coatings in oily systems, poor release of solvent or final residue will affect the hardness of the coating and the solvent will remain in the coating for a long time. The water-based epoxy resin system is different, requiring most of the water to evaporate before curing to form a film, otherwise it is prone to coating pathology, such as cracking, warping, etc.