October 16, 2013
Freeze/Thaw Stability
Without a doubt it is always best to prevent any of our finishes and sealants from freezing. They all contain water and the formation of ice crystals within the products can separate the water from the other components. In some products once this occurs it becomes impossible to regain the properties of the original formulation even after thawing and vigorous mixing. These type of products are not freeze/thaw stable.
With a few exceptions most of our products are freeze/thaw stable but if a product becomes frozen it needs to be thawed slowly, preferably at room temperature. Speeding up the thawing process by heating the container can seriously damage the product making it unusable. If the product is in pails or containers, once it has completely thawed it will require a thorough mixing.
Any finish or sealant that has been frozen will never completely regain all of the initial properties that it had before it was frozen but it may still be usable. However, if a product is subjected to multiple freeze/thaw cycles each cycle will contribute to the degradation process until it is no longer suitable for use. If a product does become frozen it is better to allow it to stay frozen than it is to bring it inside to thaw and then store it where it may freeze again. It's the succession of freeze, thaw, freeze, thaw sequences that really destroys the integrity of a product. Before applying any product that's been frozen be sure to test a small amount to see if it is still usable.
To reiterate:
It's best to protect all of our products from freezing.
If it does get frozen, thaw it slowly at room temperature then thoroughly mix it.
It's better to keep it frozen than to subject it to multiple freeze/thaw cycles.
Before applying any product that's been frozen be sure to test a small amount to see if it is still usable.
Perma-Chink System products that are NOT freeze/thaw stable:
Chink Paint
Log End Seal
Oxcon