Watch you temperatures

by Ethan Schneider

Summer temperatures can affect your CTI products, especially sealers.

All CTI sealers are tested in a variety of different environments ranging from extreme cold to extreme heat. The figures that are provided on each product spec sheet for cure times, pot life, re-coat window times, and application procedures are all based on an average temperature of 77 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you store your products in your trailer and it is 90 degrees outside, your products are likely to hit temperatures close to 120 degrees. High temperatures can drastically affect pot life of two component products especially epoxy resins such as Rapid Armor, Superseal 210, Enviroprime, and 5000 Binder. Urethanes such as Aquathane 6000 and Pro-seal 200 can also be affected. Prolonged exposure of your products to high temperatures can also significantly shorten their shelf life.

Before using these products, it is recommended that you make sure the products are brought to the proper temperature range before mixing and application. For most products that range is between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

There are a couple of ways to insure that your products are in the proper temperature range before application.

1. Try to store the products in the environment where they are going to be applied for several hours before the application.
2. Store the products in the air conditioned cab of your truck on your way to the job site.