Control and optimization of drying time of waterborne epoxy resin

1. Analysis of the causes of drying time of Water-based epoxy resin
The drying and curing of Water-based epoxy resin is a complex physical and chemical process, the core of which lies in the cross-linking reaction between resin and curing agent. This reaction gives the coating high strength, high hardness and excellent weather resistance by forming a three-dimensional network structure. However, this process is not achieved overnight, but is constrained by many factors:

Nature of chemical reaction: The cross-linking reaction between water-based epoxy resin and curing agent is a gradual process, which requires sufficient time to complete the reorganization and cross-linking of molecular chains to form a stable network structure.
Effect of Temperature: Temperature is a key factor affecting the rate of chemical reactions. Under suitable high temperature conditions, molecular motion intensifies and collision frequency increases, thereby promoting the cross-linking reaction and shortening the curing time. On the contrary, a low temperature environment will significantly reduce the reaction rate and extend the drying cycle.
Effect of humidity: In a high humidity environment, moisture in the air may penetrate into the coating, compete with the moisture in the water-based epoxy resin to participate in the reaction or cause a layer of water film to form on the coating surface, hindering the effective diffusion of the curing agent and slowing down the curing speed.
Coating thickness: The thicker the coating, the worse the mixing uniformity of the internal resin and curing agent, and the longer the heat transfer time required for deep curing, so the drying time increases accordingly.
Ventilation conditions: Good ventilation can accelerate the evaporation of moisture on the coating surface, promote the effective volatilization and reaction of the curing agent, and help shorten the drying time.
2. Regulation and Optimization Strategies
In view of the above influencing factors, the following measures can be taken to optimize the drying process of Water-based epoxy resin:

Temperature control: Before construction, adjust the construction plan according to the ambient temperature, try to choose warm periods to work, or use heating equipment to increase the temperature of the construction site, but avoid excessively high temperatures that may cause the coating to harden prematurely on the surface while the interior is not fully cured.
Humidity management: In a high humidity environment, you can use a dehumidifier to reduce the indoor humidity, or choose a period of time with lower humidity to carry out construction to reduce the interference of moisture on the curing process.
Optimize coating thickness: Control coating thickness reasonably to avoid applying too thick a layer at one time. The required thickness can be achieved by applying thin layers multiple times while ensuring sufficient drying time between each layer.
Enhanced ventilation: Enhance ventilation at the construction site, use fans or forced ventilation systems to speed up the drying of the coating surface, but be careful to avoid direct blowing that may cause surface defects in the coating.
Additives: Add appropriate amount of drier or accelerator as needed to promote the cross-linking reaction, but be careful to avoid affecting other properties of the coating.