Busting Myths About Amine Blush
I’m clearing up a few persistent myths about amine blush, including how to detect it and remove it properly. Water, detergent and a microfibre cloth will do the job—just do it before sanding.
There are really popular myths about amine blush circulating around. I know, I’ve been told all of them… so it is time to bust some of them.
1. Amine blush, contrary to popular belief, is not easily visible. There is no visible difference between surface with one and without.
But there are ways to detect it. Firstly, you know this surprisingly sticky feeling - while you know full well that epoxy should be cured hard by now? It feels like sticky, waxy surface - and behaves like one as well. The feeling is not always there but behaviour is. When you spray the surface with water - it behaves like it would on wax - forming droplets instead of spreading across. It is sure sign of amine blush which is hydrophobic.
2. It is hard to get rid off.
Well, fortunately not. It is actually very easy to get rid off - water with a detergent solves the problem nicely.
You see, while it is hydrophobic- it is also water soluble. Because it is hydrophobic, we need a detergent to be able to properly wet the surface. But when we do that - wiping it down with a microfibre cloth will do the trick. It is easy to check if we succeeded- all you need to do is to spray the surface again with water. This time you will see water spreading around in a smooth layer - sure sign there is no amine blush left on the surface.
3. It forms only occasionally
No, actually it forms quite often. Yes, it needs certain conditions to form (combination of temperature and humidity) but it is forming very often and only certain course of action is to assume it formed EVERY TIME. And that’s the advice of West System. Taking into account that it will make surface practically impossible to adhere to for epoxy - better wipe it down. Doesn’t take long! (And yes, I did ignore that advice in the past to my own peril!)
Fair warning though- do that before you sand the surface. Sanding can get the particles of it into the surface where it can be much harder to remove them.
So, after epoxying, spray with warm water with detergent, wipe and now you can sand it.
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