Flexibilised adhesives

They have found use as hardeners-eum-flexibilisers for epoxide resins (see Chapter 26) and are of interest in the production of thixotropic paints and adhesives. Related higher molecular weight materials are tough and flexible and find use as hot melt adhesives (Versalons). 

As structural adhesives, epoxies are the most widely accepted and used. They typically contain several components, the most important being the resin. To the base resin is added a variety of materials, for example hardeners, flexibilisers, tougheners and fillers. These all contribute to the properties of the resulting adhesive. Formulations may be further varied to allow for curing at either ambient or elevated temperatures. The epoxies and polyesters, together with acrylics, polyurethanes and synthetic polymer lattices will be... 

The wide range of properties available from different combinations of epoxy resins and their hardeners can be further extended by the use of other additives. These include anti-oxidants, diluents, flexibilisers, stabilisers, tougheners, fillers, surfactants and adhesion promoters. 

A flexibilised cold-curing epoxide adhesive containing an aromatic amine hardener is likely to be the most successful, particularly if... 

N. C. Paul, P. J. Pearce, D. H. Richards, and D. Thompson. Synthesis of Flexibilised Epoxy Resins in Adhesion-3 , ed. K. W. Allen, Applied Science Publishers, London, 1978. 

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