Tech Tip – Hot Weather and Resin Viscosity

Q: Do I need to use a different type of resin in hot weather to do windshield repairs?

A: The short answer is no. For optimal windshield repairs, you need a resin with the best formulation of the following attributes: viscosity, elasticity, elongation, shrinkage, shore hardness, lap sheer strength, tensile strength, and a refractive index that matches the glass. You also need a resin that’s appropriate for the weather conditions you are working in. Delta Kits’ MagniBond resin meets all of the standards previously mentioned, and can be used to complete optimal windshield repairs in all types of weather conditions.

What can cause delamination, commonly referred to as “flowering” or the “Daisy Effect?” The three factors are heat, pressure and aged glass. With a Delta Kits I-100 low pressure injection system, you are able to control the pressure and flow of the resin into the break to help avoid flowering. Other injectors using air to force resin into the break are more likely to cause flowering because of the necessity to use higher pressure. If you use that type of system you may need to use a higher viscosity resin in hot weather. For this reason, Delta Kits offers resins of various viscosities to accommodate all windshield repair technicians. However, if you are using a Delta Kits windshield repair system, MagniBond resin is the only resin you need for all weather conditions and all types of windshield damage.

MagniBond resin has less acrylic acid than other resins, making it safer to work with, yet maintains the exceptional bonding strength and durability Delta Kits users have come to expect. Delta Kits has passed the BSI (British Standards Institute) requirements for repair strength, clarity, and durability, with flying colors.

While we’re on the subject of warm weather repairs…a few of last month’s hot weather tech tips are worth repeating. You can reduce the risk of crack-outs and flowering by following these steps:

• If possible, do your repairs in a climate controlled environment or a shaded area.
• Make sure the glass is between 70-100 degrees Fahrenheit, and that your resin is within 10 degrees Fahrenheit of the glass.
• Do not spray cold water, alcohol or any other cold liquid on the glass. When cooling the windshield, do it gradually and if you must use a liquid try soaking a towel in warm water and laying it across the windshield. The moist towel will draw the heat from the glass quite effectively.
• Use the floor and defroster vents to cool the entire cabin of the car, to minimize the risk of cracking the glass. If you cannot run the car, at least roll down the windows to equalize the inside temperature.
• Use a Delta Kits HX1000 Heat X-Changer for spot cooling.

Using the right resin and taking the proper precautions will make hot weather repairs a breeze!