TECTULby IMR

Pipe sealing and joining · No-torch epoxy repair for copper

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET

FT-TC-SEL-FRIA-001

Issue date: August 4, 2026 · Rev. 001

Check the current version

Cold weld for copper — two-component epoxy repair putty, no torch required

TECTUL · Dispatch across Colombia · Exports to Central & South America

TECTUL's cold weld for copper is a two-component epoxy adhesive (resin plus hardener) in a 36 ml tube, used to bond and seal copper and copper-alloy parts without a torch or flux. It hardens to handling strength in 4 to 6 hours and reaches full cure in 15 to 24 hours at room temperature. It is a chemical repair, not a metallurgical joint: it suits pinhole leaks, porosity and worn threads of low demand, and it does not replace the capillary soldered joint per ASTM B828 on copper fittings made under ASME B16.22-2021 in new installations or full-design-pressure lines.

SKU VT-266053-01 · 36 ml tube · only current catalog presentation · sold by the unit

1. Technical specifications

What it is

Cold weld for copper is a two-component epoxy adhesive (resin plus hardener) applied cold, without a torch or flux, to bond and seal copper and copper-alloy parts. It is not welding or soldering in the metallurgical sense: it is a chemical adhesive that reproduces the sealing effect of a soldered joint without melting the metal or adding filler metal.

The hardening times, mix ratio and thermal resistance in this section are values from type-reference formulas (industrial and household two-component repair epoxies) verified against manufacturer data sheets — they are not necessarily the certified figure for the specific brand and lot TECTUL ships, which is confirmed on quotation.

2. What it fixes and what it doesn't

What it fixes

• Pinhole leaks from pitting or porosity in copper pipe or fittings.
• Worn or damaged threads on copper and copper-alloy connections, when the part cannot be replaced right away.
• Low-demand sealing and minor assembly work where torch heat is prohibited or cannot reach: confined spaces, proximity to flammable materials, lines that cannot be fully drained.
• Emergency field repair while the permanent fix is scheduled.

What it does not replace

On new copper pipe installations and on lines operating at full design pressure, the primary joint is made with a filler-metal capillary soldered joint per ASTM B828, on copper fittings manufactured to ASME B16.22-2021. Cold weld epoxy is not a substitute for that joint: it is an epoxy adhesive, without the mechanical properties or the pressure-and-temperature behavior of a continuous metallurgical joint. For the rigid copper pipe itself (types K, L and M per ASTM B88), TECTUL keeps a dedicated data sheet with the dimensional and alloy detail.

This sheet also does not certify it for fuel gas networks: that application requires products and procedures specifically certified under the applicable gas regulation, a certification a general-purpose repair epoxy does not carry by default.

3. Application

Preparation and mixing

1. Shut off the flow and depressurize the section before working on it.
2. Sand the copper surface around the leak or thread until bare, oxide-free metal is exposed.
3. Degrease and fully dry the area: residual moisture reduces the epoxy's adhesion.
4. Mix resin and hardener in the ratio stated by the lot brand's data sheet (type-reference ratio: 1:1 by volume) until the color is uniform, with no streaks.
5. Apply and shape the putty on the prepared surface before it begins to harden.

Curing and putting into service

1. Immobilize the part during initial hardening (4 to 6 hours at room temperature): do not load or move it during that time.
2. Do not pressurize or put the line into service before full cure (15 to 24 hours at room temperature); at lower ambient temperature, cure time extends.
3. Perform a leak test before returning the line to service.
4. Confirm any temperature, pressure or chemical-exposure limit in the lot brand's data sheet before considering the repair final.

4. Frequently asked questions

Does a cold-weld repair hold pressure?

It holds the load of a minor repair or a low-demand seal, not that of a new line at full design pressure. It is not a substitute for the filler-metal capillary soldered joint per ASTM B828 on ASME B16.22-2021 fittings: on those lines the primary joint is soldered. For the exact value the real lot withstands, confirm the brand's data sheet on quotation.

Does it work on wet pipe?

No. The epoxy requires a clean, sanded, completely dry copper surface to bond; residual moisture at the application point reduces adhesion and can prevent sealing. Shut off the flow, fully dry the area and degrease it before mixing and applying.

What temperature does it withstand?

It depends on the lot's formula. Type-reference formulas declare service up to 287 °C (550 °F) once fully cured; the exact temperature of the real lot TECTUL ships is confirmed in its brand's data sheet on quotation.

Is it permanent or provisional?

It depends on the use. As a minor repair or a low-demand seal, within the temperature limits and without a design pressure above what the manufacturer declares, it can be considered a continuous-use solution. On a new full-pressure line it is a provisional repair: the permanent fix is cutting out the damaged section and executing the capillary soldered joint.

How long should I wait before putting the repaired line into service?

Initial hardening takes 4 to 6 hours at room temperature — do not load or move the part during that time — and full cure, before pressurizing, takes 15 to 24 hours at room temperature. Run the leak test after full cure, not before.

5. Application notes

6. Technical notice and limitation of liability