Whether model making or technical applications, epoxy resin, also known as resin, is used today in many ways. Instead of subsequently painting components made of this material, the resin can be given the desired color by coloring it before processing. We explain to you which fabrics are suitable for dyeing and how to proceed.
Which colors are suitable?
A wide variety of materials are suitable for giving resin the desired color. Which one is used depends heavily on the desired result. What all colors have in common, however, are the requirements that must be placed on the colors:
- Good distribution in the viscous resin
- No adverse effect on the setting behavior
- No negative effects on the technical properties of the hardened resin
- High dosage for good coloring properties with little water entry into the resin mixture
Even basically suitable colors can adversely affect the epoxy urine if they are dosed too high. As a rule, a color addition of no more than five percent is therefore assumed. In individual cases, the proportion can even increase by up to 15 percent, but here it should be
Resin manufacturers specify the corresponding higher upper limits.ATTENTION: Regardless of the colorant chosen, Epoxy Hard always has a glassy impression with slightly translucent colors. In addition, outdoors it loses its color very quickly, as the resin is UB-permeable and the pigments are destroyed by UV light in a short time.
What to dye with
The requirements mentioned can be found in a large number of different dyes. The most common for this purpose are these:
Special epoxy hard paints
Developed especially for coloring epoxy resin, most resin manufacturers now offer coloring additives for their products. The colors are compatible with the resin and easy to use processing. A wide range of possible colors also allows you to work quickly with little effort for additional mixing or tinting of colors.
Acrylic paint
Created from pigments, synthetic resin and water, that is
The basis of this color is very similar to the epoxy resin. Therefore, when mixing, the result is very even distributions with good dyeing performance.NOTE: Translucent in the form of the colored epoxy resin, many acrylic paints cure with a slightly milky cast. This results from the acrylic binder used. Here you should make sure to use color with a clear acrylic binder for clear, unclouded coloring.
ink
Regardless of whether the ink is water-based or alcohol-based, it has an extreme high pigmentation, as it is supposed to produce legible writing on the paper even in the smallest quantities. Therefore, just a few drops of ink are enough to color the resin strongly. Only the choice of colors is very limited.
Airbrush paint
In the true sense of the word, airbrush paint does not refer to a type of paint, but rather all water-based paints with highly flowing and extremely finely pigmented properties. Usually you need this in order to be processed in the airbrush gun. In the epoxy resin, on the other hand, they cause good distribution and a uniformly intense color.
Watercolors
The water-based base of these well-known colors ensures very good distribution in the resin. The disadvantage is the comparatively low pigmentation, so that it is difficult to produce intense colors with watercolors.
chalk
If you prefer a grainy, almost crystalline look instead of a homogeneous color, you should try it with chalk. Finely ground, the pigment distributes itself well in the resin without dissolving.
TIP: Instead of laboriously grinding the well-known block shape of chalk, the artist's supply offers chalk already ground as a fine, lump-free powder.
Other dry pigments
Ultimately, a wide variety of solid pigments are suitable for use with epoxy resin. Since they do not dissolve, they do not affect the chemical properties of the setting process, but at the same time they always retain their grainy appearance. Today, new, high-gloss pigments even allow coloring with a metallic look.
ATTENTION: One reads again and again about oil paints for coloring resin. We expressly warn against this at this point! Since the basis of this dye is oil, even long periods of stirring do not create a real connection between the color and the resin. The color droplets separate again and again from the resin and remain as small spheres in the hardened resin. In addition to uneven coloration, these color bubbles can also affect the static integrity of components made from epoxy resin.
How to mix
When mixing paint and epoxy resin, it's best to use your gut feeling. Because fixed sizes via the addition of the amount of paint etc. do not exist. It makes sense to consider the following principles when coloring the resin:
- First mix or match the color ready for use, if necessary. prepare
- Mix the resin completely, thus ensuring a sufficient bond between resin and hardener
- Only then combine the finished color with completely mixed resin
- Add small amounts of color and stir in completely
- If more color is required, give in and work in again completely
- Pay attention to the fine grain of pigment powders, remove lumps before stirring in
- Do not exceed the manufacturer's maximum value with added color
