Selected Answers

From Kent Clow of BASF Corp on September 4, 2015:
As everyone else has mentioned, read the instructi ...read more As everyone else has mentioned, read the instructions. One important note to add is that end of "pot life" does not mean that the coating is no longer workable. However, you may be sacrificing important protection properties without knowing it. The other important thing to remember is to never add new paint into your existing work bucket. You can't restart the clock, and, in some cases, you may accelerate the gelling.

From Sarah Geary of RockTred on September 4, 2015:
Refer to your product data sheet for specified tem ...read more Refer to your product data sheet for specified temperature and gel time. Gel times for epoxies are generally indicative of pot-life, assuming you pour it out of the bucket, as Michael indicated. Sometimes, however, you'll experience shorter pot-life with increased temperature and warmer material, as Rodney mentioned. Other 2K technologies, such as urethanes and polyaspartic polyureas, contain isocyanate-reactive groups and these will react to humidity in the air and decrease work time, so you'll want to keep those in the bucket under humid conditions, or try to avoid excessive humidity entirely. If you have questions, call the manufacturer's offices if available; no one knows the product better than the manufacturer and gel times do not always jibe with working time.

From Michael Quaranta of OPERATIONS 40 on September 2, 2015:
There is no question that most of the "two-compone ...read more There is no question that most of the "two-component" paints are commonly referred to as "epoxy." Then there is no doubt that the complete mixing and application instructions are on the label(s). The special concern is to remember that the application labor time is not separated from the mixing pot life. With experience, the best positive technique is to pour the mixed material out of the bucket as quickly as possible and work the product (assuming it to be a concrete floor coating). The longer it's in the bucket, the more the constant chemical reaction will increase the blended temperature and shorten the documented pot life. Don't try to estimate the pot life if the room temperature is above 80 F !!!

From Rodney White of Independent Consultant on August 31, 2015:
Always refer to the manufacturer's data sheet, whi ...read more Always refer to the manufacturer's data sheet, while understanding that the pot life given is measured at a specific temp/ RH, and that the pot life will vary with different conditions. Given the published numbers/ parameters, one can quickly estimate the pot life for the product in a given jobsite condition.