fbpx
Epoxycraft
Menu
  • Home
  • About
  • How To
    • How To
      • Amateur
      • Professional
      • All Articles
    • Videos
      • Amateur
      • Professional
      • All Videos
  • Projects
    • Marine
    • Non-Marine
  • Products
    • West System
    • PRO-SET
    • Entropy Resins
  • Contribute
  • Stockists
  • Contact

WEST SYSTEM: How to mix G/flex epoxy with other WEST SYSTEM epoxies
30th June 2016

How to mix G/flex epoxy  with other WEST SYSTEM epoxies

WEST SYSTEM Epoxy is a very versatile system. Experienced customers know that by understanding the fundamental characteristics of WEST SYSTEM fillers, hardeners and additives, they can combine and use them in unique ways for their specific application. Here, we guide you through the method for mixing G/flex® epoxy with other WEST SYSTEM epoxies.

For years, experienced users have been blending the various products in countless ways. For example, users may blend 205 Fast Hardener® and 206 Slow Hardener® to make a hardener with a modified cure speed.

Why use G/flex epoxy?

G/flex epoxy further expands the versatility of WEST SYSTEM Epoxy Products. G/flex epoxy can be used with WEST SYSTEM 105 Epoxy Resin® and one of its four standard hardener combinations – the resulting cured epoxy will be more flexible and able to deflect more before cracking but it will also have slightly lower strength. With G/flex epoxy, the decrease in strength is not nearly as much as when a low-density filler is used but the change in flexibility does affect ultimate strength. The table below describes how properties will be affected when G/flex epoxy is blended with WEST SYSTEM Epoxy.

We have tested several mixtures of G/flex epoxy and WEST SYSTEM Epoxy mixtures in a wide range of physical tests. The blended systems have properties that are proportional to the ratio of each product in the final mixture. Experienced WEST SYSTEM users can follow their intuition to decide what ratio of each system they would like to blend together, much as they do when adding fillers. Remember, however, you must follow the correct ratio for each system when mixing 105 epoxy resin with any of the WEST SYSTEM  hardeners (By volume G/flex epoxy is 1:1, 105/205 or 206 is 5:1, 105/207 or 209 is 3:1). If the ratios are correct, it’s not necessary to mix each system separately before mixing the two systems together.

The same principle applies to blending G/flex epoxy with G5 Five-Minute Adhesive. In this case you will trade flexibility and strength for cure speed in proportion to the percent of each in the mixture.

CURED CHARACTERISTICS OF BLENDED G/FLEX 650 EPOXY
AND WEST SYSTEM EPOXY
More G/flex epoxy More WEST SYSTEM epoxy
More Flexibility Less Flexibility
Less Strength More Strength
More Elongation Less Elongation
More Toughness Less Toughness
More Viscosity Less Viscosity

DEFINITIONS OF THE TERMS USED IN THE TABLE

Flexibility—The flexibility of a material is described by its Modulus of Elasticity. The larger the value, the stiffer the material. It is important to remember that the stiffness is not related to the strength of the material. Stiffness is the physical property that determines how much a component will deflect when loaded.

Strength—The amount of stress a material can sustain without failing.

Elongation—How much a material stretches when loaded and is often written as a percentage of its original length. The ultimate elongation is the amount it has stretched when it fails.

Toughness—How well a material resists fracturing when it is stressed. A tough, strong material resists fracturing and is able to absorb energy. A very strong material may be brittle and unable to absorb energy while an extremely flexible material will not absorb energy because it will deform instead of carrying the applied load.

Viscosity—The resistance a liquid has to flow. This property does not affect the cured properties but is important for application. A lower viscosity material will generally wet out a fabric easily but will not fill a gap well in a bonding application.

 

See Understanding Flexible Properties for a more complete discussion. For specific questions, contact our Technical Experts on the West System International support page.

This article first appeared in Epoxyworks on 26 February 2015.


Share on


Back to westsystem

Subscribe to our newsletter
Our unique epoxy knowledge and experience, delivered straight to you

Events

WEST SYSTEM workshop – Hexham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne 31 January 2020
RYA dinghy show London 29th February – 1st March 2020
JEC Paris 3rd - 5th March 2020

What is epoxy?

Epoxy Projects

Steve Goodchild explains how to build a wooden dinghy (Stornoway 16) 

In part one of this series of how to build a wooden dinghy Steve Goodchild takes us through choosing a design, and making a jig for his Stornoway 16.  https://youtu.be/TDaaYs5t7o8 “I’m essentially a fair-weather

art made with epoxy

SARAH CONWAY uses bio-based epoxy to make coasters and art flower blooms

From her garage in Bedfordshire, Sarah Conway has discovered that ENTROPY® RESINS products are the best epoxy for coasters and all the other stunning art creations she produces. With an online

People on WEST SYSTEM epoxy course

WEST SYSTEM workshop – Hexham, Newcastle-upon-Tyne (31 Jan 2020)

Learn the basic concepts of using and handling WEST SYSTEM® epoxy in this unique, hands-on, one day workshop. Friday 31st January 2020, ECF Composites, Hexham, NE46 4DQ Gain experience in

guitar made with WEST SYSTEM epoxy

Using epoxy to glue wood – the ‘Eat a Peach’ guitar

James Macdonald created this beautiful guitar in Maine. Here he writes of the journey he’s been on to bring this project to life, and how he used epoxy to glue

George winning his mega bundle of epoxy presents for sailors

Epoxy presents for sailors

If you’re looking for presents for sailors, take inspiration from George Isted’s recent win (pictured with Hamish Cook). He’s giving some of this mega-bundle of epoxy goodies as gifts; sharing

Marine grade, high-quality epoxy for catamaran builds like Cheetah Marine

Cheetah Marine’s porotype catamaran was built in 1989 on the Isle of Wight. Founder, Sean Strevens, built her with thin marine ply and WEST SYSTEM® epoxy, the original and best

How to use colour epoxy with tints selection of blue from Entropy Resins

How to use colour tints with epoxy

If you want advice on how to use colour with epoxy, read our top tips. The tints have been specifically designed for use with crystal-clear ENTROPY RESINS® Clear Casting Epoxy,

Technical epoxy experts at composites show

Come and see us at Advanced Engineering and / or METSTRADE

This time of year is always busy with a great selection of shows and exhibitions across Europe including the flagship UK composites exhibition, which we are once again delighted to

Moulding an oil tray

The beauty of epoxy, says Jake Kavanagh, is that it makes a tough, non-shrinking connection between various angles of wood, ideal when you want to make a plug for a

Building an 18th century gajeta – Part 9

The finished 18th century Gajeta - or how to build a classic boat with epoxy. As you’ll know, we’ve run a series on the build of a Gajeta at the Betina

From barrel to board

These stunning whisky barrel surfboards were crafted with whisky barrels and made with ENTROPY RESINS®. Although they’re destined for walls they’re true advocates for the beauty of well used wood and crystal-clear

Rowing the Atlantic for charity

We’re delighted to be supporting two firefighters from St Mary’s, Southampton, in their epic quest to row across the Atlantic and raise money for charity. Billed as the premier event

  • Home
  • Projects
    • Marine
    • Non-Marine
  • Products
    • West System
    • PRO-SET
    • Entropy Resins
  • Contribute
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
West System
Pro-Set
Entropy Resins
Subscribe to our newsletter
Copyright © 2019 Epoxycraft | Website by MAA