Open time

The length of time a mixed, reactive resin or adhesive remains usable in the mixing vessel before it thickens beyond application. Pot life shortens as temperature and mixed quantity increase, because the curing reaction generates its own heat.

The ability of a liquid adhesive, resin or coating to spread over and make intimate contact with a substrate or fibre surface. Good wetting is essential for adhesion and for full fibre impregnation in composites, and depends on the relative surface energies of the liquid and substrate and on surface cleanliness.

The chemical process by which a liquid resin or adhesive hardens into its final solid state through crosslinking, driven by a hardener, catalyst, heat, moisture or radiation depending on the chemistry. Full properties develop only when cure is complete, which can take considerably longer than the initial set.