Aerospace industry, epoxy formulations

Compared to the carboxylated nitrile elastomer additives, the use of thermoplastics has primarily been focused on the aerospace industry. On a cost per pound basis, the two-phase nitrile additives offer the best combination of property improvement without negative impact. The thermoplastic additives, however, may offer better high-temperature performance, but they are more difficult to formulate and to process as adhesives. As a result, the cost of these adhesives is generally much higher than that of other toughened epoxy mechanisms. 

The work described herein relates primarily to lamination and bonding processes. However, the techniques are generic to most forms of thermoset resin processing. In the discussion which follows many of the resin systems contain glycidyl amines. The bulk of the epoxy formulations used in the aerospace industry today are based on tetraglycidylmethylenedianiline, I (TGMDA) and with diaminodi phenylsulfone, II (DOS). Systems based on... 

Epoxies have historically been the major adhesive family used for the structural bonding of metals and composites in the aerospace, industrial and automotive industries. They are characterised by curing to hard infusible resins that bond to a wide range of metals and have excellent resistance to heat and the environment. Epoxies have been used since the 1940s and have an excellent track record of successful structural bonding. Two-component and heat-cured one-component versions are available and literally thousands of formulations have been developed over the years for specific applications. 

Epoxy-based primers are commonly used in the aerospace and automotive industries. These primers have good chemical resistance and provide corrosion resistance to aluminum and other common metals. Primer base resins, curing agents, and additives are much like adhesive or sealant formulations except for the addition of solvents or low-viscosity resins to provide a high degree of flow. 

Abstract The incorporation of rare earth compounds as corrosion inhibitors in polymeric paint systems is presented. Specifically, uses of cerium salts in an electrolytically deposited coating commonly used in the automotive industry and praseodymium oxide in spray applied epoxy-polyamide primers for aerospace applications are discussed. Special emphasis is placed on the importance of phase of the rare earth material in relation to polymeric matrix as the effectiveness of the corrosion inhibition is strongly link to the starting materials, the formulated paint system and the ambient environment in which the coating operates in practice. 

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