If you're planning an epoxy project, you may be wondering which epoxy type is right for you. One factor that users don't always consider is the viscosity rating of different epoxy resins.
We'll go over the differences between our epoxies here.
UltraClear Epoxy's resins and their viscosity ratings
The two most commonly used resin types are table top epoxy and deep pour epoxy. Both of them serve specific purposes.
UltraClear table top epoxy: a high viscosity epoxy standard
For table top epoxy, protection and convenience are the primary goals. It's stronger and more resilient, as well as being easy to use due to its self-leveling trait.
This epoxy is typically used on bar tops, table tops, countertops, and many other large furniture or structural projects. Because of its low viscosity, it also pours more slowly once fully mixed with hardener. This makes it easy to control your pouring, which is good since most table top epoxy projects don't need rails to hold it in.
It is sometimes used on very small projects as well, but it's not a casting resin, so it isn't intended to be used for deep embedments or mold filling.
For that, you'll want to use the deep pour epoxy, described below.
UltraClear deep pour epoxy: a low viscosity epoxy alternative
Deep pour epoxy primarily focuses on embedding or casting. It could be described as a low viscosity epoxy casting resin. It flows more rapidly and has less cohesion, so it won't self-level to the same extent as table top epoxy.
Deep pour epoxy is often used for projects that need thick layers, whether to embed objects, for casting purposes, or to fill in reservoirs and gaps in substrate materials.
If your goal is something in that vein, or you simply need a low viscosity resin for another reason, this is the one you should choose.
Why does epoxy viscosity matter?
The viscosity of epoxy plays a major role in what the epoxy can be used for. As mentioned above, table top epoxy is not intended for thick layers. One of the main reasons for this is related to its high viscosity rating.
Because resin has a naturally high cohesion, it tends to stick together (more strongly than water), and it will pool into beads rather than spread itself infinitely thin.
UltraClear table top epoxy's high viscosity combined with high cohesion is what allows it to self-level, at a very particular 1/8 of an inch. There's a lot of physics going on that bring it so consistently to this depth.
Attempting to pour thicker or thinner layers usually results in problems, as the epoxy cannot spread out adequately to provide a thinner layer, and the high viscosity of table top epoxy makes it more likely to trap in air as it cures when poured in thick layers.
Deep pour epoxy solves these issues
Our deep pour epoxy, on the other hand, is able to spread thinner and is fine with being poured in thick layers, up to one inch at a time. This makes the deep layering process take much less time, and in some cases is what makes high depth projects even feasible—all due to its low viscosity rating.
Both epoxy types complement each other
The most common way to make use of deep pour epoxy is to apply it as needed to a project first, filling in voids or casting molds, etc. Many people then choose to apply a topcoat of table top epoxy to any flat surfaces that are likely to experience a lot of wear over time.
This is useful because, while deep pour epoxy is reasonably strong, it's not top-tier protection like table top epoxy is. It's always good to have that final, nearly impervious layer of defense from impact damage and scratching, thus preserving your project for years to come.
Have questions about our epoxies? Contact us. We're here to help!
At UltraClear Epoxy, we pride ourselves more than anything on providing a good customer service relationship and reliable high quality products.
If you're planning a project and would like advice, or if you just want to make sure you buy the right supplies for your needs, you can contact us via email or phone here.
You can even text chat directly online with one of our epoxy experts by clicking the help button at the bottom right of your screen.
