Baby Carrots and Fighter Jets use Lo-Mod Epoxy

PNSB is our popular lo-mod epoxy binder-grout for use in repairing concrete joints and spalls, often located in very tough applications like Navy and Air Force runways, municipal refuse handling facility floors, large vehicle repair shop floors, machine shop floor repairs and food processing machines (grinding surface adhesive). PNSP is also useful to bond flexible materials to concrete as it can tolerate thermal movement and mechanical shock better than rigid epoxies.

Often, PNSB is extended with 4-8 volumes of gap-graded aggregates to provide a durable (5000 psi compressive strength) surface that is highly resistant to chipping, impacts, point loads and large temperature swings. When used as an aggregate extended binder, it has a useful working life of up to 45 minutes at 72°F, so there is time for your company's best trowelers to properly place the entire batch you just mixed in the mortar mixer.

PSNB is compliant with ASTM C881 Type III, which applies when there is a need to bond a skid-resistant material to hardened concrete or when an overlay is subject to thermal or mechanical movement.

What is the role of the aggregates when used to extend the epoxy? Depending on the size distribution, shape, hardness and quantity used, they can dramatically affect the placement properties, strength, wear, impact resistance and thermal behavior of the grout. It's possible to achieve workable mixes that are only ~10% epoxy with excellent working properties (the epoxy is the expensive part). Unlike cementitious patches, there's rarely a bonding problem and in most cases, priming isn't necessary as the product is self-priming.

So what's the deal about baby carrots? Well, we can't reveal secrets of our best customers. We can tell you that baby carrots are formed from larger carrots that have been cut and ground. The longest-lived carrot grinding wheels are made with a high mod epoxy and a low mod epoxy in a special combination. Similar wheels handle even harder tasks like the grinding of pistachio nut hulls.

Why use this lo-mod epoxy binder-grout?

• works on damp, wet or even underwater substrate
• withstands substantial mechanical and thermal shocks
• is generally a good option to bond flexible materials (including some rubbers) to rigid substrates (like concrete)
• improves bonding and mechanical toughness of damaged concrete spalls and joints
• can be mixed in either a self leveling or trowelable consistency depending on aggregate
• Work with us and you can use local sources of aggregates, save $