Contents
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Epoxy resin is a very resistant contamination due to its specific structure: short polymer chains give the composition a special strength. Epoxy can sometimes be removed only at the cost of damaging the surface on which it has fallen. The following are the most effective, fastest and safest ways to solve the problem.
Removal from the skin
If epoxy resin gets on the skin, the use of aggressive methods is unacceptable, since this can lead not only to even more etching of the composition, but also to damage to the cover. The procedure is as follows:
Remove gloves and immediately wash epoxy-stained skin under running water using laundry soap.
Try to remove the maximum amount of the still liquid composition from the skin using improvised means.
Remove epoxy residues from the skin with a solvent (eg acetone). Thoroughly soak a cotton pad or natural tissue in the active ingredient and gently but intensively wipe the skin.
Wash the skin again using laundry soap. Wipe it dry with a towel.
Lubricate the treated area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe skin with a nourishing cream (this will help prevent drying of the skin).
If the stain on the skin was not immediately detected, and the epoxy had time to harden, the solvent will not be effective. In this case, it is worth resorting to vegetable oils (for example, sunflower). Using a cotton swab or pad, rub the oil vigorously into the skin, applying the compound directly to and around the stain until the epoxy softens. When it peels off the skin, it will be easy to remove. Treat the rest as described above.
Removal from clothes
Cured epoxy on clothing is an almost insoluble problem, since solvents can change not only the color, but also the structure of the fiber, as, indeed, any abrasives. The gentle methods presented do not always work effectively, but the likelihood that the item will be damaged is minimal.
Sparing methods
Spot heating
To remove epoxy at home, it is recommended to use a hair dryer or boiling water. In the case of a hair dryer, you need to select the maximum temperature and direct the air stream to the contaminated part of the fabric. Keep the hair dryer in this position for 3-5 minutes, periodically moving it from side to side (it is important to ensure uniform heating of the stain). When heated, the top layer of epoxy or resin softens, and the substance can be carefully removed with a spatula.
After that, you need to continue heating the spot until the next layer softens. Repeat the procedure until all the epoxy is completely peeled off. Wash the product with a good quality powder.
The second way to influence the epoxy is hot water. But before immersing the product in boiling water, it is important to make sure that it can withstand exposure to high temperatures. The contaminated area should be immersed in boiling water for a few seconds. The epoxy should soften. After that, gently pry off the layer of substance and tear it off the material. Then wash the product in any convenient way.
The third option is to use an iron. It is necessary to cover the area of uXNUMXbuXNUMXbthe clothing contaminated with resin with another cloth and walk a little with an iron heated to the highest possible temperature.
Freeze spots
Since clothes are quite sensitive to the effects of cold, the use of construction coolant is irrelevant. As an alternative, freezing the product in the refrigerator is quite suitable. First you need to put the clothes in an airtight bag, then put them in the freezer for a certain period of time. The stain should dry out and crack, after which it will be easy to remove.
Aggressive methods
Solvents
This method is relevant only when the methods described above did not help, and the clothes are considered unsuitable for further wear. Acetone, 5% lacquer thinner, denatured alcohol, as well as ready-made chemical compounds such as DMSO, SP-6 washes, etc. are used as effective agents for removing traces of epoxy resin. Any of the above agents must be evenly applied to the fabric contaminated with epoxy and leave for a couple of minutes. Then gently pry off and remove with a spatula.
Removal from surfaces
Glass/plastic/metal
To remove epoxy from glass and plastic surfaces, medical or isopropyl alcohol is suitable. Using improvised means, apply the composition to the contaminated area and rub the surface until the epoxy softens. This may take more than 1 hour.
If this method does not help, you can use a more aggressive composition such as denatured alcohol or paint thinner. In this case, it is important to protect the skin and respiratory tract (work exclusively in a respirator, it is also necessary to protect hands and eyes).
Freezing the spot with refrigerant is the most aggressive and effective method available. When working with it, it is important to observe safety precautions – wear goggles, a respirator. The room must be well ventilated. Shake the reagent bottle and apply a little refrigerant to the contamination. The resin should harden and become very brittle. It will be enough to use a spatula: the stain needs to be slightly pry off and the resulting fragments removed.
Advice. It is not recommended to apply significant force to remove cured resin from a metal or plastic surface – this may damage it. Therefore, if after the first application of the refrigerant it was not possible to remove the contamination, you can repeat the freezing procedure.
wood/concrete
When treating concrete and wood surfaces, the use of solvents and alcohols is unacceptable, as they destroy wood and concrete surfaces. But acetone penetrates deep into these materials due to their porous structure and reduces the adhesion of the epoxy, accelerating its removal from the surface.
In case acetone was not enough, you can use the method of heating the material. Before doing this, it is important to make sure that the acetone has evaporated, as it is a highly flammable compound. Heating of a wooden surface or concrete is carried out using a building hair dryer (working temperature – 90 0WITH). The hair dryer must be periodically moved so that the heating is uniform. When the epoxy softens, it can be easily removed with a spatula.
Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.