Pot life

The time taken for a mixed resin to change from a workable liquid to a soft gel that can no longer be applied or moved. It marks the practical end of the working period and is quoted by resin suppliers at a stated temperature and catalyst addition.

The period after an adhesive has been applied during which the parts can still be joined and a sound bond achieved. Once the open time is exceeded, through skinning, solvent loss or advancing cure, the surfaces no longer wet each other properly and the joint will be weak.

The heat released by a thermosetting resin as it cures. In thick sections or large mixed volumes the temperature rise can be severe enough to cause discolouration, cracking or degradation, so laminate thickness per pass and mixing quantities are managed to control it.

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.