Epoxy resins future trends

Finally, it is highly desirable to improve the ability to calculate the properties of surfaces and interfaces involving polymers by means of fully atomistic simulations. Such simulations can, potentially, account for much finer details of the chemical structure of a surface than can be expected from simulations on a coarser scale. It is, currently, difficult to obtain quantitatively accurate surface tensions and interfacial tensions for polymers (perhaps with the exception of flexible, saturated hydrocarbon polymers) from atomistic simulations, because of the limitations on the accessible time and length scales [49-51]. It is already possible, however, to obtain very useful qualitative insights as well as predictions of relative trends for problems as complex as the strength and the molecular mechanisms of adhesion of crosslinked epoxy resins [52], Gradual improvements towards quantitative accuracy can also be anticipated in the future. 

There has been a significant migration of the PCB laminate manufacturing capacity to Asia (mainly Taiwan and China) in the late 1990s. In 2001, 70% of epoxy resins used in PCB laminates was consumed in the region and the trend is expected to continue in the near future. 

As regard the future trends of utilization of epoxy resins, high-performance coatings, followed by electrical/electronic ones and adhesives, flooring and paving applications, composites and molding products will continue to be their primary application worldwide. Further future developments of epoxy resins are related to their use as matrices of composites for dental applications and for trenchless rehabilitation of existing pipelines. 

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