Hydrocarbon resins compressive strength

Aromatic hydrocarbons, such as toluene or xylene, significantly reduce the viscosity of liquid DGEBA resins, but their use can be accompanied by a 15-25% decrease in compressive yield strength and a 10-20% reduction in compressive modulus (Fig. 11). If the solvent is trapped in the cured system, solvent resistance is reduced and cracks develop if the resin is used in heat-cured castings. The use of solvents and reactive diluents in epoxy systems is reviewed in References 192 and 193. 

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