Gel time is another term that is often used
interchangeably with pot life, although there
are some differences. Both terms are used to
describe the thickening of an epoxy after it is
mixed, but gel time is often tested at elevated
temperatures as well.
Gel time is determined by heating the epoxy
and observing when it starts to become stringy,
or gel-like, though not quite fully cured. It will
most likely be at a higher viscosity the end of
it’s pot life measurement.
This value can be useful for manufacturing
purposes if one needs to move a part before the
cure is complete, but does not want any shift
in a component placement. It is not, however,
a standard quality control test and should be
determined experimentally in each application,
if needed.