Epoxy facts for kids

A syringe of "5-minute" epoxy, containing separate compartments for each of the two components

Epoxy is the end product of epoxy resins.

It is also a common name for the epoxide functional group, and a common name for a type of strong adhesive used for sticking things together. Typically, two resins need to be mixed together before use.

Epoxy resins are a class of reactive polymers which contain epoxide groups. Their co-reactants are often called 'hardeners' or 'curatives', and the cross-linking reaction is referred to as 'curing'. The reaction forms a thermosetting polymer, often with strong mechanical properties as well as high temperature and chemical resistance. Epoxy has a wide range of industrial applications.

• Superglue is another strong adhesive, made of cyanoacrylate.

Images for kids

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  Structure of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin: n denotes the number of polymerized subunits and is typically in the range from 0 to 25

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  Special epoxy is strong enough to withstand the forces between a surfboard fin and the fin mount. This epoxy is waterproof and capable of curing underwater. The blue-coloured epoxy on the left is still undergoing curing

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  An epoxy encapsulated hybrid circuit on a printed circuit board.

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  The interior of a pocket calculator. The dark lump of epoxy in the center covers the processor chip

See also

In Spanish: Resina epoxi para niños