105 System Selection Guide

2. Hardeners

Select your hardener by cure speed or select 207 if you need a clear epoxy.

	Choose by Speed			Choose Coating
Pot Life (100g)	10-15 min	20-30 min	20-30 min	5-70 min
Working Time (Thin Film)	60-70 min	90-110 min	85-110 min	200-260 min
Cure to Solid (Thin Film)	5-7 hrs	9-12 hrs	9-12 hours	20-24 hrs

All times given are based on working at 25°C.

4. Additives

Select your additive (if needed) for its handling characteristics or cured physical properties.

Abrasion Resistance	Moisture Resistance	Low-Friction	Create an even base coat	Create an even base coat	Create an even base coat

Detailed Product Selection Information

Do you need more information to help you decide which product is right for you? Here’s a more in-depth look at factors to consider when selecting your products.

Selecting your HardenerHardener Cure Speed

Each WEST SYSTEM Epoxy resin/hardener combination will go through the same cure stages, liquid, gel, and solid. The hardener you select and the temperature you are working at will affect the rates of speed at which the mixed epoxy moves through those cure stages. Base your hardener selection on the amount of working time you’ll need for the job you’ll be doing at the temperature conditions you’ll be working under. Each hardener has an ideal temperature cure range.

The pot lifetime we provide is based on 100 grams or 4 pump strokes each of resin and hardener using our 300 Mini Pumps. If you are using a larger amount of epoxy or a different size of mixing pot, the length of pot life can vary. To increase the pot life of a cup of mixed epoxy, spread it over a larger surface area, work in a cooler environment, or mix multiple smaller batches as you go.

Epoxy Temperature

The warmer the temperature of curing epoxy, the faster it cures. The temperature of curing epoxy is determined by ambient temperature plus the exothermic heat generated by its cure.

Ambient temperature is the temperature of the air or material in contact with the epoxy. Air temperatures are most often the ambient temperature unless the epoxy is applied to a surface with a different temperature. Generally, epoxy cures faster when the air temperature is warmer and slower when it is cooler.

Hardener selection should take into consideration working temperatures in your environment.

Exothermic Heat

Exothermic heat is produced by the chemical reaction that cures epoxy. The amount of heat produced depends on the thickness and exposed surface area of mixed epoxy. In a thicker mass, more heat is retained causing a faster reaction and even more heat. The mixing container’s shape and the mixed quantity have a great effect on this exothermic reaction. A contained mass of curing epoxy (8 fl. oz. or more) in a plastic mixing cup can quickly generate enough heat to melt the cup and burn your skin. However, if the same quantity is spread into a thin layer, exothermic heat dissipates, and the epoxy’s cure time is determined by the ambient temperature. The thinner the layer of curing epoxy is, the less exothermic heat affects it, and the slower it cures.

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Selecting your FillerAdhesive Epoxy Fillers

Adhesive fillers are suitable for most epoxy bonding situations, especially with high-density materials like hardwoods and metals. Adhesive filler mixtures cure to a strong, hard-to-sand-cured epoxy plastic useful in structural applications like general bonding, filleting, and hardware bonding.

Fairing Fillers

Fairing filler epoxy mixtures cure to a light, easily sandable material that is generally used for cosmetic or surface applications like shaping, filling, or fairing. Seal all faired surfaces with epoxy before painting.
Fillers can be blended to create epoxy mixtures with intermediate characteristics.

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Selecting your Additives

Additives are used to give epoxy additional physical properties when used as a coating. Although additives are blended with mixed epoxy in the same two-step process as fillers, they are not designed to thicken the epoxy. Follow the mixing instructions on the container when blending these products into your epoxy resin/hardener mixture.

Aluminium Powder

420 Aluminium Powder will increase the hardness and abrasion resistance of the coated surface and improve its moisture resistance. 420 provides limited protection from ultraviolet light in areas that are not protected by other coatings and can be used as a base for subsequent painting. Cures to metallic grey colour.

Barrier Coat Additive

422 Barrier Coat Additive is a proprietary blend designed to further improve cured epoxy’s moisture exclusion effectiveness. 422 is used as a barrier coating additive to help prevent gelcoat blistering in polyester fibreglass boats and increases the epoxy’s abrasion resistance. Cures to a light grey colour.

Graphite Powder

423 Graphite Powder is a fine black powder that can be mixed with epoxy to produce a low-friction exterior coating with increased scuff resistance and durability. Epoxy/graphite is commonly used as a low-load, low-speed bearing surface. The epoxy/graphite mixture cures to black colour.

Pigments

WEST SYSTEM pigments are available in four colours, white, black, blue and grey. We suspend the pigments in an epoxy resin base which allows them to blend thoroughly into the epoxy to make very uniform colours. These are helpful to use when highlighting an epoxy-coated surface, like for fairing. Coloured surfaces highlight flaws and imperfections. It can also be used as a coloured base coat for the final finish system, like paint. Cured, pigmented epoxy surfaces are not a final finish surface but require an additional paint or UV filter coating for ultraviolet protection, so it holds up for years to come.
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