Cross-linking curing agents

The predominance of one reaction over the other is greatly influenced by the catalyst system employed. Amines and acid anhydrides are extensively used as curing agents. Tertiary amine systems are often used in practice. In addition to the catalytic reactions, the epoxy resins may be cross-linked by agents that link across the epoxy molecules. These reactions may be via the epoxy ring or through the hydroxyl groups, as illustrated below. 

Novolaks. Novolak resins are typically cured with 5—15% hexa as the cross-linking agent. The reaction mechanism and reactive intermediates have been studied by classical chemical techniques (3,4) and the results showed that as much as 75% of nitrogen is chemically bound. More recent studies of resin cure (42—45) have made use of tga, dta, gc, k, and nmr (15). They confirm that the cure begins with the formation of benzoxazine (12), progresses through a benzyl amine intermediate, and finally forms (hydroxy)diphenyknethanes (DPM). 

Ch1orocarhony1trime11itic acid 1,2-anhydride [1204-28-0] (9), is used in the preparation of esters and amide—imide polymers. TriaHyl trimellitate [2694-54-4] (10) is used as a cross-linking or co-curing agent for ethylene-derived mbbers and plastics. 

Because the heat distortion temperature of cured epoxy resins (qv) increases with the functionality of the curing agents, pyromellitic dianhydride is used to cross-link epoxy resins for elevated temperature service. The dianhydride may be added as a dispersion of micropulverized powder in liquid epoxy resin or as a glycol adduct (158). Such epoxies may be used as an insulating layer in printed circuit boards to improve heat resistance (159). Other uses include inhibition of corrosion (160,161), hot melt traffic paints (162), azo pigments (163), adhesives (164), and photoresist compounds (165). 

The DADC monomer has been copolymerized with small amounts of polyfunctional methacryflc or acryflc monomers. For example, 3% triethylene glycol dimethacrylate was used as a flexibiflzing, cross-linking agent with a percarbonate as initiator (26). CR-39 and diethylene glycol diacrylate containing isopropyl percarbonate were irradiated with a mercury lamp to a 92% conversion and then cured at 150°C (27). By a similar two-step process DADC was copolymerized with methyl methacrylate and tetraethylene glycol dimethacrylate (28). 

The use of TAG as a curing agent continues to grow for polyolefins and olefin copolymer plastics and mbbers. Examples include polyethylene (109), chlorosulfonated polyethylene (110), polypropylene (111), ethylene—vinyl acetate (112), ethylene—propylene copolymer (113), acrylonitrile copolymers (114), and methylstyrene polymers (115). In ethylene—propylene copolymer mbber compositions. TAG has been used for injection molding of fenders (116). Unsaturated elastomers, such as EPDM, cross link with TAG by hydrogen abstraction and addition to double bonds in the presence of peroxyketal catalysts (117) (see Elastol rs, synthetic). 

On curing, amino resins not only react with the nucleophilic sites (hydroxyl, carboxyl, amide) on the other film formers in the formulation, but also self-condense to some extent. Highly alkylated amino resins have less tendency to self-condense (33,34) and are therefore effective cross-linking agents, but may require the addition of a strong acid catalyst to obtain acceptable cure even at bake temperatures of 120—177°C. 

Fig. 10. Generalized formulation design outline for radiation-curable coatings and adhesive systems. The cross-linker is a multifimctional unsaturated cross-linking agent or oligomer, rj = viscosity CR = cure rate S = shrinl ge H = hardness F = flexibility A = adhesion 7 = surface energy ...

Diamine curatives were the first cross-linking agents for fluorocarbon mbbers. They are corrosive to mild steel molds and have been replaced in many appHcations by the bisphenol or other more recent cure systems. Nevertheless, some diamines are stiU used for food-contact appHcations of fluorocarbon mbbers and in zinc-free cures of halobutyl mbbers for pharmaceutical stoppers. Methylene dianiline and triethylene tetramine are cross-linking agents for ethylene—acryflc elastomers. 

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