What’s Epoxy Resin?

You may see epoxy resin countertops and pegboards on our site, but not everyone may know just what the material is. So today we answer what are epoxy and resin, and what makes this particular resin desirable for laboratory equipment?  Though resin has a particular connotation in nature, the resin that we deal with is defined by Merriam-Webster as: “any of a large class of synthetic products that have some of the physical properties of natural resins but are different chemically and are used chiefly in plastics”.  These synthetic resins fall into the category of “thermosetting polymers”, which are plastics solidified through heat. Such polymers are incapable of being reverted back from the mold they are shaped into.  The term “epoxy” stems from the “-oxy” part of its name, and refers to the oxygen atoms bonded within its chemical makeup. The more commonly used understanding of the term is that it is a strong, bonding adhesive. Understanding the two individual terms helps one understand what this material is and how it works. In a lab setting, this equates to a material that you can work on top of relatively worry free. An epoxy resin countertop will be strongly bonded, and possess a level of resistance to chemicals and flame. Visit BlacklandMFG.com today to view our epoxy resin countertops and other epoxy resin laboratory equipment!