[Closed] how long for Epoxy grout to go-off?

In my limited experience - almost as fast as I could get it on the wall..... Was made by Sealocrete I think.

Brand, type? You'll probably be able to find a tech data sheet on the internet.

Did you account for container weight when you split. It can distort the maths.

But the answer the question is variable. It will go off faster in a tin than applied. Exothermic reaction gives off heat so the more you have the more heat and the more reaction. Can be exciting if you reach a suitably large quantity.

Temperature - I work with stuff that won't cure at 10c but will go off in minutes at 30C. Even then we have some stuff that goes off in <15minutes and longer than 3 hours at the same temperature. Depends on what chemistry/catalyst is being used.

I'd guess a dry time of 4 hours would be normal.

thanks
brand is litokol, starlike is the product.
temp is around 14-19 degrees.

was producing some heat, and 2part catalysed smell but still, seems very slow.
i will have to look for data sheet. just got worried cso after initial clean-up it said leave for 15-30 minutes then clean again. i assumed that meant it would have changed significantly by then: it hadn't.

wee dod in the bucket is changing slowly but quite a lot slower than i expected having worked a lot with polyester based products etc.

anyway, will have a look for data sheet and see how it is in the morning

ok, this reasured me:
[i]At a temperature of +15°C it takes three days before the surface is
ready for foot traffic. [/i]

obvious question but in weighing out you did respect the same ratio as it was batched?

Part A 100
Part B 8

i divided each into 3, and did take bucket weight into account too, in such a way that there'd have been more catalyst if anything?.

That might not be a good thing. It probably isn't a catalyst but a reagent that reacts with the epoxy. And even if it was a catalyst, adding more isn't better. Part A reacts with part B. The mix ratio tells means that you have the correct amount of each. Too much of one and you end up with a soft weak material since some un-reacted material remains in the mixture. The tolerance is normally pretty high on epoxy/amine systems which I assume this is.

But in any case it will probably just take a while. Seems quite temperature sensitive in that they suggest 18-25C.

yep, double the catalyst and although it *may* cure faster the polymer chains will be half as long as they should be (gross oversimplification) and therefore potentially softer, etc.

A little bit either way won't harm but don't stretch it too far.

yes, understand that. but as you say, it's not that far out.
it's cured this morning anyway, happydays. but i didn't expect it to take anything like so long.
must be cooler in that room than i thought!

Epoxy grout - the scene of my messiest early DIY foray in my first house. New bathroom fitted myself, never tiled and grouted before. I little bit messy so tried to clear it up. Subsequent recovery made it worse..and worse...and worse.

Never had a satisfying shower or dump in that bathroom again and all I could see was the horlicks I'd made of the job.

and its only 14? in there this morning.
helped me get my 2nd batch into the tricky parts anyways!