Caution: do NOT do this in the kitchen microwave. I don't find epoxy odor to be particularly strong or objectionable...but then I've worked with amines (long-dead-fish smell), carboxylic acids (rancid butter + old goat pee), and other really stinky compounds over the years.
Got a gallon of old EPON 815C epoxy resin from a friend, and have a quart of Versamid 140 curative sitting on the shelf. Both are at least 15-20 years old. I've used epoxy with Versamid before, and full cure required at least 48 hours at room temperature. In a hotbox at 140F it took several hours at least.
As a test I mixed two 30 gram portions, 2:1 and 3:2 epoxy:Versamid. Put them in the microwave for just fifteen seconds. Both were then too hot to touch, and were glass-hard within half an hour.
As a chemistry geek I know that microwaves have been used for years to accelerate chemical reactions, and certain reactions are more susceptible to microwaves than others. Just didn't expect such a dramatic decrease in cure time.
If you want to experiment with microwaves and epoxy, use an old microwave and do it outside or in a separate workshop.
Best,
Terry
Got a gallon of old EPON 815C epoxy resin from a friend, and have a quart of Versamid 140 curative sitting on the shelf. Both are at least 15-20 years old. I've used epoxy with Versamid before, and full cure required at least 48 hours at room temperature. In a hotbox at 140F it took several hours at least.
As a test I mixed two 30 gram portions, 2:1 and 3:2 epoxy:Versamid. Put them in the microwave for just fifteen seconds. Both were then too hot to touch, and were glass-hard within half an hour.
As a chemistry geek I know that microwaves have been used for years to accelerate chemical reactions, and certain reactions are more susceptible to microwaves than others. Just didn't expect such a dramatic decrease in cure time.
If you want to experiment with microwaves and epoxy, use an old microwave and do it outside or in a separate workshop.
Best,
Terry