Epoxy-based coatings have been an economical choice for facility owners and designers. As a versatile coating solution, epoxies provide an aesthetic appeal, durability, chemical resistance, and surface protection from corrosion for many applications. While epoxies can be an ideal solution for surface coating, they are prone to breaking down due to exposure to light, especially ultraviolet (UV) light.
Copps Industries has been delivering epoxy resin solutions since 1979. We serve a variety of industries and applications with solutions for complex and demanding applications and harsh environments. Our custom formulations, depth of experience, and extensive portfolio allow us to deliver solutions that meet your expectations. This blog will answer the question, “Is epoxy UV resistant?” We will explore methods to protect epoxies from UV light and the benefits of using epoxies to help you determine if UV-resistant epoxy is ideal for your application.
How Does UV Light Affect Cured Epoxy?
When epoxy resin is exposed to UV light, it undergoes a process called photodegradation. The energy from the UV radiation breaks down the cured epoxy, which causes it to become weaker, discolored, and brittle.
One of the primary effects of UV exposure on cured epoxy is a reduction in its clarity and glossiness. Over time, the epoxy may start to appear cloudy, hazy, or yellowed. This is often called “ambering,” and it can be particularly noticeable on light-colored or transparent surfaces.
In addition to reducing the visual appeal of epoxy, UV exposure can also weaken its physical properties. The cured epoxy may become chalky or powdery, indicating that it has lost some of its strength. This can make it more prone to cracking, peeling, or flaking, especially if it is subjected to mechanical stress or environmental factors like moisture and temperature changes.
Prolonged exposure to UV radiation can cause irreversible damage to cured epoxy, leading to structural failure and other issues. To prevent this, it’s important to take steps to protect epoxy surfaces from UV light, such as using a UV-resistant topcoat or keeping the epoxy out of direct sunlight whenever possible.
How Can Epoxy Be Made UV Resistant?
As epoxies are not naturally UV resistant, manufacturers commonly add UV-absorbing additives to the epoxy formulation. These additives work by absorbing the UV radiation before it can penetrate and degrade the epoxy resin and hardener. By incorporating these additives, epoxy can withstand exposure to UV light for longer periods without showing significant degradation.
Another way to protect epoxy surfaces from UV damage is to use a UV-stable topcoat. This coating can be applied over the cured epoxy to act as a barrier between the epoxy and the UV radiation. The topcoat should be designed specifically for use with epoxy and should be rated for outdoor use if the surface will be exposed to direct sunlight.
The duration of UV protection for epoxy depends on the type and quality of the UV-resistant coating used, and factors such as UV exposure, climate, and coating quality can further affect the duration of protection. Regularly applying maintenance coats of UV-resistant varnish is important, with the frequency depending on the level of UV exposure and coating quality. Reapplication every one to three years, or as needed, is recommended for optimal protection.
In addition to using a UV-resistant coating or adding UV-absorbing additives to the epoxy formulation, there are other ways to protect epoxy surfaces from UV damage. For example, keeping the epoxy out of direct sunlight and using shading devices, such as awnings or umbrellas, can significantly reduce UV exposure. Regular cleaning and maintenance of the surface can also help to prolong its lifespan and protect it from UV damage.
Protecting epoxy from UV damage is essential to ensure its longevity and maintain its appearance. By choosing a UV-resistant coating or adding UV-absorbing additives to the epoxy formulation, and taking appropriate measures to minimize UV exposure, it is possible to protect epoxy surfaces from UV damage and extend their lifespan.
Advantages of Using Epoxy
While traditional epoxy is not UV resistant on its own, epoxy resins provide the following advantages:
Durable: Epoxy resins offer good stability and durability, offering weather and chemical resistance.
Easy to Apply: Epoxy resins can be applied quickly using a relatively simple process.
Gap Filling: Epoxies can fill surface gaps to provide a smooth finish.
High Strength: Epoxy resins provide a fast and strong adhesive bond to various surfaces and deliver long-term resilience and hardness.
Versatile: Epoxy resins can be used in almost any surface coating application and can be a substitute for various other materials.
Shrink Resistant: Epoxies are not prone to shrinkage and will not become loose once they settle properly with less than a 1% probability of shrinkage.
Thermosetting: Once fully cured, epoxy resins will maintain their solid state and remain unaffected by high temperatures, without any melting or softening.
Underwater: Epoxy resins are waterproof and can be used for underwater construction.
Countertop & Crafting Epoxy Resin From Copps
Epoxy resins are a preferred surface coating material for residential and commercial applications. They offer a variety of benefits, including strength, resistance to water and high temperatures, and extreme versatility. Traditional epoxies can degrade under prolonged UV light exposure and require additives or coatings to inhibit permanent photodegradation from UV light.
Copps UV-resistant countertop and crafting epoxy is easy to use and ideal for every user, from beginners to advanced artisans. Our UV-resistant craft epoxy comes in a simple, two-part system. Its self-leveling properties make it easy for users to get a perfect finish the first time. It hardens to a glass-like, crystal-clear finish to deliver lasting beauty to any countertop or crafting project. Copps has a variety of new epoxy systems with UV protection for every application. Contact us or request a quote for your UV-resistant epoxy solution.
At Copps Industries, we take our commitment to the environment, our community, and our customers seriously. The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) offers companies a clear roadmap for sustainable growth by determining the amount and speed of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Learn more about how we’re committing to reducing climate change through the Science-Based Targets initiative.
What Are ‘Science-Based Targets’?
Proper organization and project management initiatives can help organizations zero in on social and environmental goals as part of their ESG efforts. ‘Science-based targets,’ in particular, are used to denote the specific goals — and pathways to achieving those goals — that companies will use to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) is the framework that gives organizations a clear series of steps to future-proof their company’s growth and ensure sufficient reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. Many organizations are starting to focus on these initiatives in order to future-proof their business and develop a pathway to minimizing their organizations’ impact on climate change.
The framework for developing science-based goals is especially helpful in this context. The goals take into account developing scientific knowledge and understanding of greenhouse gases and become very specific, actionable goals. The criteria for determining if a goal is science-based is if it aligns with the scientific evidence of how to achieve the goals in the Paris Agreement, an international treaty focusing on climate change and efforts to curtail or reverse negative environmental changes. The main focus of the Paris Agreement is a hard ceiling on temperature increases — taking measures to ensure the temperature doesn’t increase by 2° C above the known pre-industrial levels — and a softer goal — taking measures to curtail warming so it doesn’t rise by more than 1.5° C.
While many organizations are already motivated to reduce their climate impacts and have made strides in this direction through innovative practices, a clear framework can make those efforts more efficient and effective. Ambitious, scientifically-back goals can also set the groundwork for even more transformation.
The first step in joining the Science-Based Targets initiative is to sign the SBTi Commitment Letter, which allows participants to publicly mark their company as committed to SBTi. If your organization opts to commit to net-zero GHG emission goals or near-term GHG reduction goals, you will have a 24-month timeline to complete these two steps:
Create a science-based target that fulfills SBTi criteria.
Submit that goal for SBTi validation. To complete this step, your organization will need to book a target validation slot online and submit the required form.
These two steps are essential for creating science-based targets that align with the core mission of the Paris Agreement and ensuring that your organization is on track to realize your goals.
Copps Industries Science-Base Targets Initiative: Greenhouse Gases and Environmental Commitment
At Copps Industries, we support SBTi and the continued efforts toward a future with reduced or net-zero GHG emissions to slow climate change. Our organization is committed to doing the right thing for all of our stakeholders, including our employees, customers, community, and environment. We continually work toward future-proofing our organization and reducing our environmental impact with initiatives like:
Removing flammables from our plant
Replacing chlorinated solvents in favor of more environmentally-friendly compounds
Removing known and suspected toxic ingredients from our chemical formulations
Upgrading our packaging to reduce waste
Copps is a leading innovator in the epoxy product space, and our mission is to continually innovate our products and services to meet the needs of our customers and environment. We also prioritize the continued safety of our employees in the workplace through products and processes that have fewer toxins and preserve air quality. We aim to continue focusing on environmental commitment to a cleaner future and providing our clients with consistently high-quality epoxy products.
Learn More About Our Mission
Copps Industries is your go-to partner for high-quality epoxies, but we’re also your partner for environmental action and a more sustainable supply chain. Contact us today to learn more about our initiatives, or request a quote for pricing details on our products.
Copps Industries has been steadfast in pursuing one overriding guiding principle — to seek a better solution! Throughout its corporate life, Copps has always sought to do the right thing, for its customers, for its employees, for its community, and for our environment. Whether it be the removal of all flammables and chlorinated solvents from our plant, re-formulating core products to replace known or suspected toxic ingredients, or the continual upgrading of our packaging, Copps will find the better solution!
We have been designing and manufacturing resins for a broad range of markets including Civil Engineering, Aggregate/Mining, Structural Adhesives, and Electrical/Electronics since 1979. Today, Copps Industries has successfully grown and diversified to over 500 active products. We provide sales, customer service, product development, and technical support to over 400 customers in 27 countries.
OUR SOLUTION
While there are a multitude of companies supplying epoxy products, Copps Industries is among a select group of innovators offering and supporting a wide range of proven, economical, uniquely formulated systems. In addition, we are driven to environmentally enhance our products for greater workplace safety.
Our design and development experience and depth of knowledge are backed by our commitment to provide our customers with the most practical and most consistent industrial epoxy solution available.
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Guided by our commitment to environmental responsibility and an obsession for quality and excellence in all that we do, the Copps mission of “if it is not in the best interest of our employees, our customers, and the environment, we will not do it” keeps us focused on providing the finest, most consistent epoxies on the planet.
YOUR VIRTUAL CHEMICAL COMPANY
Rapid product development
Quality Control / Assurance
Custom product formulation
Fully equipped testing and analytical laboratory
Environmentally responsible chemical management • Complete customer and technical service support
Copps Industries has evolved from a single product line manufacturer to one of the premier OEM and private label providers. This direct hands-on experience, successfully combined with our diverse product offering and dedication to custom formulation, allows Copps Industries to be in the forefront of private label marketing. Our many long term international OEM partnerships are a direct result of our entrepreneurial and collaborative total support programs.
No R&D Costs
No Fixed Costs
Regulatory and Environmental Compliance • No Expensive Start-up Costs
No Manufacturing Costs
Export Shipping Compliance
INNOVATIVE MARKET-PROVEN PRODUCTS
Over 2,000 formulations immediately available as-is or readily modified to meet your requirements.
CUSTOM PRODUCT FORMULATIONS
Comprehensive in-house research, development, testing and prototyping capabilities enable us to formulate products to your precise specifications with fast turnaround.
BETTER WAY TO GET TO MARKET
Whether you select from our large inventory of market-ready products or take advantage of our custom product development services, our turnkey program capabilities will significantly shorten your time to market and greatly increase your ROI.
WHATEVER SIZE YOUR COMPANY, WE’LL FILL YOUR NEEDS
Whether you are a large (or small) company downsizing, restructuring, or hampered by limited manufacturing or design capability, consider the Copps solution.
Let Copps Industries economically provide the niche or new product you need to increase both your competitive edge and profitability! Our private label experiences range from small regional companies to multi-divisional international “GIANTS”.
JUST WHAT YOU NEED
Copps will assess all aspects of your product(s) requirement. Product development, production parameters, specifications, packaging and labeling details are all assiduously evaluated to insure regulatory compliance and market success.
“COPPS INDUSTRIES’ PRIVATE LABEL PROGRAM IS MORE THAN JUST PRODUCTS”
WORKING TOGETHER
By partnering with Copps Industries for your outside product development and manufacturing needs, you have access to our entire corporate expertise — without the need for capital expenditure. Our knowledge, skill and experience are available to further your economic goals. Using Copps Industries as an “extension” of your manufacturing is the smart way to add new products—the lifeblood of any organization! Success is our mutual goal which may only be achieved by providing the right solution for you, our private label partner.
THE VIRTUAL CHEMICAL COMPANY
YOU GET OUR WHOLE COMPANY!
Product development
Quality Control/Assurance
Custom product formulation modules
Fully equipped testing and analytical laboratory
Environmentally responsible chemical management
Complete customer and technical service support
Manufacturing, packaging, labeling, direct shipping
TOTAL CONFIDENTIALITY
And it is backed by our proven track record for compliance, maintenance and performance around the world. All pertinent documentation and product furnished by Copps is controlled by our state-of-the-art ERP computer software system.
COMMITMENT TO THE ENVIRONMENT
Environmental, health and safety concerns have been essential formulation guidelines at our company since its inception in 1979. Copps Industries did not have to “become green”; we started out green!
TEAMWORK
Copps Industries is guided by certain principles. All customers and employees are to be treated with dignity and respect. Our success is directly proportional to our ability to work together. We stress teamwork within our organization and with our customers. Copps Industries believes in the sharing of knowledge, skills, insights and opportunities with others.
What does it cost your company by not doing private label?
CONCRETE FLOOR COATINGS AND RESURFACING
Our comprehensive line of 100% solids, VOC-free epoxy, industrial concrete floor coatings and overlays is highly innovative and cost effective. Our concrete floor coatings and resurfacers provide solutions for the most severe flooring and restoration needs, and are installed in chemical processing, power generation, tool and die, pulp and paper, food and beverage facilities worldwide.
CONSTRUCTION, BUILDING AND RESTORATION MATERIALS
We offer a diverse product mix to serve these markets:
Bridge Deck Overlay Systems
Crack Injection
Joint Fillers
Concrete Adhesives
Rubber Tile Adhesives
PRECAST CONCRETE FORM MATERIALS
Our 100% solids, VOC-free, self-leveling and thixotropic epoxy coatings for wood, steel, concrete, and foam forms are proven in thousands of applications in the precast tilt-up, slip-form and cast-in-place industries. They are an “in-demand“ product because of their ability to turn a rough, uneven concrete form into a smooth, level surface, extending the life of the form and enhancing the quality of the finished surface.
MACHINERY INSTALLATION GROUTS
Epoxy grouts, used to set heavy equipment, process machinery and restore concrete foundations are a core product group at Copps Industries. Our line of 100% solids, flowable epoxy grout products are resistant to vibration, moisture and chemical attack.
Specialty grouts which are serviceable at temperatures up to 450o F (232o C), with minimal creep, to extremely water resistant materials, to very economical “deep pour“ solutions — these are just a small sampling of our extensive grout expertise.
AGGREGATE AND MINING
Copps is a well respected name in aggregate plants, quarries, and mines throughout the world. Our crusher backing products have been in use for over 25 years. These include our stan- dard workhorse backing to our very high performance backing, the industry zenith, to our DOT/EU non-hazardous products.
Our alumina ceramic wear resistant and steel filled repair epoxies are among the most sophisticated, easy to apply, high performing materials available. With service temperatures up to 450oF (232oC) and documented chemical/corrosion resistance second to none, these performers are a value- added choice for industry worldwide.
ELECTRICAL INSULATION MATERIALS
Copps Industries’ (500 +) custom designed epoxy potting and encapsulation materials are used in transformers, ballasts, ignition coils, and a variety of other applications. One and two component, heat cure and ambient cure, high temperature potting and encapsulation systems are available.
ADHESIVES
Surface Mount Device Adhesives
Automotive Assembly Adhesives
Motor Magnet Adhesives
Electrically Conductive Adhesives
INSULATION VARNISHES
VOC Free Electrical Motor Varnish
VPI (Vacuum Pressure Impregnation)
Ignition Coil Insulation
Dip and Trickle Impregnation of Stators and Armatures
COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE
Guided by our commitment to environmental responsibility and an obsession for quality and excellence in all that we do, the Copps mission of “if it is not in the best interest of our employees, our customers, and the environment, we will not do it” keeps us focused on providing the finest, most consistent epoxies on the planet.
