Has anyone made their own potting compound? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Chris Wilson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 05:32:23 pm
content: I have a commercial project and one of the major component expenses is potting compound. Buying it in 1kg packs is cheaper, but it comes in a divided plastic bag, so you have to mix it all at once, and I don't always need 1kg in one go.... I am wondering if any chemists know what it is made up of and if a home brew is feasible? Need opaque, ideally black, hard setting stuff. Thanks.

author: vindoline
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 05:38:25 pm
content: It's almost certainly a two-part epoxy resin. No, it is not feasible to "roll your own". You should be able to mix up only the amount you need though.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 05:54:20 pm
content: ABE Epidermix 2 part epoxy, mixed with fine silica sand, makes a pretty hard, yellow and very difficult to break filling material. Takes around 24 hours to cure fully, but has some shrinkage and is mildly exothermic.Take the 2 part pack and simply decant it into 2 separate plastic bags, then simply mix the appropriate amount of each as needed. Typically 2 parts to 1 works, though there you need to have a good volume measure.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 12, 2015, 06:19:13 pm
content: I always mix by weight, it is so much easier and more accurate.I convert the specific gravities of the hardener and resin to their weight per volume. I then calculate what the multiplier is times the resin weight to obtain the total weight with hardener added, and mark the hardener container with "1.283 times resin = total weight with hardener" as an example. This allows you to calculate the total weight needed for the volume you are filling and get precise ratios of resin to hardener even for very small volumes. most of my mixing is done in 1oz disposable cups on a milligram scale. No measuring cups to clean or dispose of, only the mixing cup.PS: Just buy the stuff from ebay I mentioned in your other thread about this and be done with it. I showed it is cheap even with the shipping.

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:28:45 am
content: Hot glue with some sort of pigment mixed in to turn it black?

author: coppice
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 04:31:44 am
content: Quote from: NiHaoMike on March 13, 2015, 04:28:45 amYou mean like carbon powder? [yes, I've seen that done]

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 11:49:34 am
content: What is this compound?, I find lot of this on ebay for ok prices:http://www.ebay.com/itm/310368256789But shipping for this to Norway is very expensive, so I have been looking around in Norway to find out what I can use, but, nobody I have talked to understand what I mean.. and the closest thing I have found, is epoxy used for bathroom floors, but that is crazy expensive compared to this..I wanted to experiment with some things like the pictures in the ebay article, where they put led lights inside this compound (think coasters, chessplaying board etc)

author: Gromitt
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:16:09 pm
content: Quote from: neslekkim on March 13, 2015, 11:49:34 amI don't know what it is called in Norwegian, but in Swedish it's called "epoxiharts"./stefan

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 01:41:50 pm
content: Quote from: Gromitt on March 13, 2015, 01:16:09 pmAha, are there good places to buy this in Sweden?When i talk to hobbyists and so on, they are talking about the natural resins etc, which is not at all what I want..

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:03:16 pm
content: Quote from: neslekkim on March 13, 2015, 11:49:34 amThat is the stuff I have used and it isexcellent! His ebay store is extremely informative on how to use the products.I have no connection to the seller but have used several of his products and they are very good.

author: neslekkim
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:13:57 pm
content: Quote from: robrenz on March 13, 2015, 02:03:16 pmYes, he have lots of good information about the products, but I'm on the other side of the big pond so the shipping is kinda crazy, and I would hope that someone sells this material here also.

author: robrenz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 13, 2015, 02:28:37 pm
content: This post showsit may still be the cheapest solution.