Mechanical properties crosslinking agents

An EB-curable struetural adhesive formulation usually eonsists of one or more crosslinkable oligomeric resins or prepolymers, along with such additives as reactive diluents, plasticizers, and wetting agents. The oligomer is an important component in terms of the development of mechanical properties. The adhesive and cohesive properties depend on the crosslink density, chemical group substitution, and molecular organization within the polymer matrix. Adhesion is achieved... 

Nylons 6/6 and 6 comprise more than 90% of the polyamide market. The two have similar properties but nylon 6 has a lower Tm (223°C). Small amounts of nylons 6/9, 6/10, 6/12, 11, 12, 12/12, and 4/6 are produced as specialty materials. Those with more methylene groups than nylons 6/6 and 6 have better moisture resistance, dimensional stability, and electrical properties, but the degree of crystallinity, Tm, and mechanical properties are lower. Specialty nylons made from dimerized fatty acids find applications as hot-melt adhesives, crosslinking agents for epoxy resins, and thermographic inks. 

On the other hand, the alkoxide system presented several problems in formulation. The system first chosen as a model consisted of a trimethoxymethyl silane crosslinker, 8000 centistoke HEB siloxane, and a catalyst. A number of catalysts were used and each exhibited different cure rates and electrical properties. DuPont tetraalkoxytitante-Tyzor appears to he one of the better catalysts used in this type of curing system. Fillers are usually incorporated into the silicone formulation to improve mechanical properties, promote adhesion, and to serve as light screening and pigment agents. Cab-o-sil, a form of fumed silica, carbon-black, titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate are then used as RTV fillers. 

Effects of Curing Agent Type. Epoxide-Cured Propellant. Carboxyl-terminated polybutadiene is a linear, difunctional molecule that requires the use of a polyfunctional crosslinker to achieve a gel. The crosslinkers used in most epoxide-cured propellants are summarized in Table IV and consist of Epon X-801, ERLA-0510, or Epotuf. DER-332, a high-purity diepoxide that exhibits a minimum of side reactions in the presence of the ammonium perchlorate oxidizer, can be used to provide chain extension for further modification of the mechanical properties. A typical study to adjust and optimize the crosslinker level and compensate for side reactions and achieve the best balance of uniaxial tensile properties for a CTPB propellant is shown in Table V. These results are characteristic of epoxide-cured propellants at this solids level and show the effects of curing agent type and plasticizer level on the mechanical properties of propellants. 

Mixed aziridine or mixed epoxide-MAPO cures have been the practical solution to problems encountered with single curing agents. The mechanical properties of mixed aziridine or mixed epoxide—aziridine-cured propellants show less change on aging than those of propellants cured with MAPO or BITA alone. It appears that the BITA or the multifunctional epoxide (ERLA-0510 or Epon X-801) in the mixed curing systems provides stable crosslinks and a slight amount of postcure, which results... 

The catalytically functioning curing agents do not directly participate in the crosslinked network but promote reactions between epoxy groups themselves. Tertiary amines as well as boron trifluoride type complexes are effective catalytic agents. Excellent discussions of the specific curing agents, their reactivity with epoxy and their effect on epoxy mechanical properties are available in the literature 4 6I. 

Apart from the effect on the crosslinking efficiency, the use of co-agents in peroxidecuring also imparts the molecular structure of crosslinks. It has been reported that coagents with two or more unsaturated moieties can be incorporated as individual molecules between two elastomer strands to form crosslinks [103-109]. In this way the crosslink structure of peroxide-cured elastomers can be altered. Thus, apart from the expected benefits, such as improved crosslinking efficiency, decreased compound viscosity and faster cure, the use of co-agents may also provide a tool for manipulating mechanical properties. 

In the previous section it was demonstrated that co-agents enhance the crosslinking efficiency via co-curing of elastomer strands with co-agent domains. Because the use of co-agents alters the crosslink structure, the elastic and mechanical properties of the cured... 

---