2 Part Epoxy and Corals, long term relation?

Aqua Splendor · Jun 9, 2020

Hello here what I have:

It's a 2 part Epoxy and I would be curious for those who are "expert" in that domain.
I was thinking to "cook it" for a little time once I finish what I have to do, any though?

Thank you

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 9, 2020

Cook it? Not elevated temperature, right? The jargon for adhesives is cure it.

Aqua Splendor · Jun 9, 2020

Well since it goes in my oven where I cook everything I figure out the word would be cook

hehe

Would high temperature simply liquefy the epoxy actually?
I assume when it's cure, it's rock solid but ... not sure?

Aqua Splendor · Jun 9, 2020

832B - Black Epoxy for Electronics

832B is a black, general-purpose epoxy for potting and encapsulation

www.mgchemicals.com

Convenient 2A:1B volume mix ratio
Low mixed viscosity of 3 300 cP
Extremely high compressive and tensile strength
Excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrates including metals, composites, glass, ceramics, and many plastics
Excellent electrical insulating characteristics
Broad service temperature range -40 to 140 °C (-40 to 284 °F)
Extreme resistance to water and humidity (allows for submersion where needed)
Solvent-free

I sent a email to the company.
Honestly I really don't see anything that warn me it could be dangerous, it seem similar to a peanut butter container.

But I would love someone who tell me i'm wrong and why!

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 10, 2020

Aqua Splendor said:
Well since it goes in my oven where I cook everything I figure out the word would be cook hehe

Would high temperature simply liquefy the epoxy actually?
I assume when it's cure, it's rock solid but ... not sure?

OK, since you did literally mean cook, then no, I strongly advise against it. Unless the epoxy is designed for high temperatures, the organics in it can begin to degrade with heat and you may may it more likely to release organic molecules into the tank water, not less likely.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Jun 10, 2020

Aqua Splendor said:
832B - Black Epoxy for Electronics

832B is a black, general-purpose epoxy for potting and encapsulation

www.mgchemicals.com

Convenient 2A:1B volume mix ratio

Low mixed viscosity of 3 300 cP

Extremely high compressive and tensile strength

Excellent adhesion to a wide variety of substrates including metals, composites, glass, ceramics, and many plastics

Excellent electrical insulating characteristics

Broad service temperature range -40 to 140 °C (-40 to 284 °F)

Extreme resistance to water and humidity (allows for submersion where needed)

Solvent-free

I sent a email to the company.
Honestly I really don't see anything that warn me it could be dangerous, it seem similar to a peanut butter container.

But I would love someone who tell me i'm wrong and why!

The company won't know anything about its suitability, and even adhesive chemists familiar with reef aquarium chemistry (such as myself; I used to work for an adhesive company) can only guess since none of these chemicals have been tested against all the organisms in your tank. There are plenty of chemicals in it, even before you make more by cooking it (lol). This is the data sheet for one part of that epoxy, showing some of the chemicals:

https://www.mgchemicals.com/downloads/msds/01%20English%20UK%20SDS/sds-832b-part-a%20en%20uk.pdf

bisphenol A diglycidyl ether
(C12-14)alkylglycidyl ether
bisphenol A/ diglycidyl ether resin, liquid

I would definitely not add those to my reef aquarium.

But a cured epoxy won't contain much of these as they react into a larger polymer that will not readily dissolve.

Thus I expect it is OK and the leachables will be minimal after full curing.

Is that a 100% guarantee it is OK? No.

Aqua Splendor · Jun 10, 2020

Yes the bisphenol was the only thing that push me away from it.
I was thinking to "cure" it in saltwater bucket for a month.

It goes into a small aquarium, where i'm going to do massive water change time to time.

Reading the pdf file:

H411 Toxic to aquatic life with long lasting effects.

Liquid epoxy resins and some reactive diluents are not readily biodegradable, although its epoxy functional groups are hydrolysed in contact with water, they have the potential to bio-accumulate and are moderately toxic to aquatic organisms.

Uncured solid resins on the other hand are not readily bio-available, not toxic to aquatic and terrestrial organisms, not readily biodegradable, but hydrolysable.They present no significant hazard for the environment

. According to Environment Canada, 'initial assessment shows that at low levels, bisphenol A can harm fish and organisms over time

In general, studies have shown that bisphenol A can affect growth, reproduction and development in aquatic organisms. Among freshwater organisms, fish appear to be the most sensitive species. Evidence of endocrine-related effects in fish, aquatic invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles has been reported at environmentally relevant exposure levels lower than those required for acute toxicity. There is a widespread variation in reported values for endocrine-related effects, but many fall in the range of 1 ug/L to 1 mg/L

And there's also Ethyloxirane, anyways, enough reading on that PDF, thank you for bring me this.
I think I have my answer

LET'S DO THIS!
not...

It pretty much summarises your answer also