Paints and coatings Epoxy's

"2 part waterborne epoxy coatings" are used as ambient cure epoxy coatings. These non-HAP, two-part epoxy coatings are developed for heavy duty service on metal substrates and use less energy than heat cured powder coatings. These systems use a more attractive 4:1 by volume mixing ratio. The coating dries quickly providing a tough, UV resistant, protective coating with excellent ultimate hardness, and good mar and abrasion resistance. They are designed for rapid dry protective coating applications. Ambient cure 2 Part waterborne epoxy coatings provide excellent physical properties in exterior applications. These products have excellent adhesion to various metal substrates. Their low VOC and water clean up makes them a natural choice for factory cast iron, cast steel, cast aluminum applications and reduces exposure and flammability issues associated with solventborne coatings. They are usually used for industrial and automotive uses as they are high heat resistant (as latex-based and alkyd-based paints usually burn, thus peel, with slight high heat temperatures).

Polyester Epoxies are used as powder coatings for washers, driers and other "white goods". Fusion Bonded Epoxy Powder Coatings (FBE) are extensively used for corrosion protection of steel pipes and fittings used in the oil and gas industry, potable water transmission pipelines (steel), concrete reinforcing rebar, et cetera. Epoxy coatings are also widely used as primers to improve the adhesion of automotive and marine paints especially on metal surfaces where corrosion (rusting) resistance is important. Metal cans and containers are often coated with epoxy to prevent rusting, especially for foods like tomatoes that are acidic. Epoxy resins are also used for high performance and decorative flooring applications especially terrazzo flooring, chip flooring ^[4] and colored aggregate flooring.^[5]

Cleanup

When using epoxy resin and hardener, vinegar is an effective and safe solvent to clean up tools, brushes, skin, and most surfaces. Acetone can also be used, but it is very volatile and flammable, unlike vinegar. Vinegar is safer for cleaning epoxy resin from human skin than acetone: both liquids will dissolve the resin, but the resin/acetone solution can easily pass through the skin into the bloodstream, unlike vinegar. White vinegar can even clean up epoxy resin that is beginning to cure/harden. DME (Dimethoxyethane) is also a good solvent for epoxy resin and hardener that gives off very little vapor. However, none of these substances is an effective solvent for epoxy that has cured.

 Health risks

The primary risk associated with epoxy use is sensitization to the hardener, which, over time, can induce an allergic reaction.

Both epichlorohydrin * Epichlorohydrin is a precursor to glycidyl  nitrate, an energetic binder used in explosive and propellant compositions.*The epichlorohydrin is reacted with an alkali nitrate, such as sodium nitrate, producing glycidyl nitrate and alkali chloride.
 and bisphenol A * are suspected endocrine disruptors. 
 200px-Epichlorohydrin-3D-balls  

According to some reports Bisphenol
A is linked to the following effects in humans:

• oestrogenic activity;
• alteration of male reproductive organs;
• early puberty induction;
• shortened duration of breast feeding;
• pancreatic cancer