| SYMPTOMS |
ISSUE |
SOLUTION |
| Thixo product will not come out of the tip easily |
- Cooler conditions than specified make the product more viscous.
- Using a caulk gun that does not have enough mechanical advantage
- The epoxy components have crystallized in the cartridge.
- The static mixing tip has become clogged from the initial material going through it.
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- Do not reuse or attempt to clean Thixo static mixing tips.
- Always use a new static mixing tip with each application.
- If the epoxy in the cartridge has crystallized, warm the cartridge to 140-150°F until the material is no longer crystallized, prior to using.
- Use a caulk gun with at least a 10:1 mechanical advantage.
- Warm the cartridge before using, especially if the cartridge is below 65°F.
- If the flow rate is not fast enough or the bead is not wide enough, the static mixing tip can be trimmed to allow for a wider bead and increased flow.
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| Thixo does not stop coming out of the tip |
- The release control for the caulk gun was not engaged.
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- Thixo, Thixo Pro, Thixo Flex, Thixo Wood, and Thixo Fast Cure will not flow on their own if the plunger is not under pressure. There is a release lever for the plunger, which will stop the flow of the epoxy.
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| Thixo cartridge does not fit properly in the caulk gun |
- Thixo cartridges that are 185ml or 250ml require a standard size caulk gun that will accept an offset tip. The tip is offset from the center of the cartridge due to the mechanics inside the cartridge.
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- Do not attempt to jam a Thixo cartridge into a gun that does not allow for an off-center tip.
- The 450ml Thixo Pro cartridge requires a caulk gun that can fit a dual-component, or a double caulk gun. Commonly, these guns are also referred to as epoxy guns, but ensure that the gun can be adapted to fit the 450ml cartridge and and a 2:1 configuration (one plunger will have a smaller diameter than the other).
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| Thixo did not cure |
- Sufficient time was not allowed for the Thixo to cure.
- The initial bead of epoxy from the Thixo tip was used.
- The Thixo may have crystallization in at least one of the components.
- Contamination
- Thixo was applied and cured at a temperature below the advised range.
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- Ensure that the ambient temperatures are within the cure range of the Thixo product.
- Check for crystallization in the epoxy. Remove any crystallized epoxy, follow procedures for reconstituting the crystallized epoxy, and reapply as needed.
- Allow sufficient time for the epoxy to cure before reevaluating.
- Ensure that the two components are mixed thoroughly.
- Do not use the first 3-4" of bead when using a static mixing tip. It is not considered a viable blend of resin and hardener.
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| Thixo had chunks and did not cure properly |
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- Remove any crystallized epoxy.
- Follow the directions on the Technical Data Sheet to reconstitute crystallized Thixo by heating the cartridge.
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| Only one of the two components came out of the cartridge |
- One component may be crystallized.
- Conditions are too cool for proper flow of the epoxy material.
- Improper caulk gun
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- Only use mechanical caulk guns that are designed to fit standard sized caulk tubes or Thixo cartridges. Do not use pneumatic caulk guns.
- Only dispense or cure Thixo products under the specified environmental conditions.
- Check the components for crystallization — if crystallization is present, follow the directions on the Technical Data Sheet for reconstituting the crystallized epoxy.
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| Difficulty cleaning the static mixing tip |
- It is not feasible in time or materials to clean the static mixing tips.
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- Do not clean the static mixing tips.
- Thixo products should use a new static mixing tip with every application. Allow the epoxy to cure in the tip after each use, and simply change out the tip for the next use. The epoxy in the tip will not glue the tip in place because it is not mixed thoroughly enough to cure at the base of the tip.
- It is a good convention to have extra static mixing tips on hand before starting projects, in case they are needed later on.
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| Thixo took a long time to cure |
- Ambient temperature was too cool.
- Thin bead or thickness of application
- Thixo, Thixo Pro, and Thixo Wood are slower curing products
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- Increasing the ambient temperature will speed up the curing rate of the epoxy.
- Applying any product in a thin film may cure at a slower rate than the specifications declare, as a thin film does not generate enough heat during the cure to accelerate the cure rate.
- Select Thixo Fast Cure.
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| Some of the epoxy cured and some did not |
- Improper mix ratio
- The resin and hardener components were not mixed thoroughly.
- Contaminant came in contact with the epoxy.
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- When using the static mixing tips, the first few inches of bead are always considered waste product because one component will always make it through the tip first. Once the bead shows an even blend of the two components, it can be used.
- Remove any uncured epoxy and reapply Thixo, as needed.
- Ensure that the epoxy has not crystallized. If it has crystallized, remove the epoxy that has not cured, and warm the cartridge to 140-150°F, until any crystallization has been alleviated, prior to using the cartridge again.
- Ensure that no contaminants have come in contact with the Thixo material before it has been mixed, or before it has been able to cure.
- Thin applications of material will cure at a slower rate than thicker beads. Wait another 12 hours and see if it has cured.
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| Thixo did not adhere to the substrate |
- Improper surface preparation
- Not a compatible substrate
- Thixo product has not fully cured.
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- Always allow Thixo products sufficient cure time before stressing or applying loads.
- Only apply Thixo to compatible substrates specified on the Technical Data Sheet.
- Always follow all surface preparation directions, as specified on the product's Technical Data Sheet.
- If there is poor adhesion to compatible substrates, remove the epoxy and start over, following the specific surface preparation directions on the Technical Data Sheet.
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