History and Development of Epoxy Resins

John A. Gannon CIBA-GEIGY Corporation Ardsley, N.Y. 

Epoxy resins were first offered comnercially in 1946 and are now used in a wide variety of industries. 

In recent years, ca. 45 of the total amount of epoxy resins sold were used in protective coatings while the remainder (55%) used were in structural applications such as laminates and composites, tooling, molding, casting, construction, bonding and adhesives. 

The resins are characterized, after curing, by high chemical and corrosion resistance, gocd mechanical and thermal properties, outstanding adhesion to various substrates, good electrical properties and ability to be processed under a variety of conditions. 

The resins also exhibit low shrinkage during cure. 

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