Epoxy is best known as a durable glue type that provides a high level of bonding properties that are far superior to most ordinary paste style glues. Generally sold in a two component package that requires mixing just before use, epoxy is used to securely bind a number of different types of metals, plastics, and woods. Here is some information about the contents of epoxy, as well as examples of how the glue is used.

Created to provide both bonding powers and a hard layer of protection, the basic elements of epoxy are derived from petroleum products. One of the basic components this powerful polyepoxide is bisphenol-A, which helps to provide some of the bonding efficiency of the glue. Epichlorohydrin is another key element in epoxy, and helps to provide the substance with a hard layer that is resistant to humidity, moisture and excessive hot and cold temperatures. The combination of the hard coating coupled with the strong bonding agents makes epoxy the ideal choice of a thermosetting epoxide polymer to use with metals that undergo a lot of stress, such as the hulls of airplanes and the metal plating that is found on most ships.

Epoxy can also be used in the construction of wood furniture. Not only does epoxy function to secure sections of the frames, it also can be used as an ingredient in the finishing varnish to create a layer of protection that is not only attractive but will help preserve the integrity of the piece for many years. In like manner, epoxy is often used to mend fiber cuts in telephony networks, since the substance has the ability to bind fiber wiring and create a seal on the polymer casing of the fiber. Often, it is this combination of superior protection and the ability to restore broken object to productive use that make epoxy so attractive.

Epoxy can also be used around the home. As a hardener that will create a strong bond, epoxy can be used to repair the joints in antique picture frames, as well as allow for the mending of table legs that may have begun to wobble with age. While the epoxy that is marketed for home use is formulated differently from industrial strength epoxy, the glue is still strong enough to handle most household repair jobs.

Epoxy is usually mixed just before use. Two separate chambers containing the necessary elements are combined, then applied to the broken piece. Different brands of epoxy are formulated to dry within thirty minutes, with some brands creating a solid bond in no more than six minutes.