Curing resins

Resin additives Resin cements Resin component Resin cure systems Resin curing agents Resin formation Resin-in-pulp Resinoid Resinols Resins... 

Panels then move into a cooling device, normally a wheel or rack, where they are held individually and air is circulated between them to remove the majority of heat remaining in the boards after pressing. It is desirable to reduce the average board surface temperature to about 55°C. This temperature is sufficient to complete the cure of adhesive in the core of the board. The heat also helps to redistribute moisture uniformly within the boards, because the board surfaces are drier than the core when the boards come out of the press. Warm boards are normally stacked for several hours to a day to allow for resin cure and moisture equalization. 

Epoxy Resins. Urethane and ester-extended hydantoia epoxy resins cured with several compounds seem to have better properties than the previous ones (98). These resins are prepared from hydantoias such as (21) (99,100). 

Benzil. Ben il [134-81-6] (diphenylethanedione) is a yellow soHd that crystallines from alcohol in hexagonal prisms. Ben nil can be prepared by the oxidation of bennoin [579-44-2] (2-hydroxy-2-phenylacetophenone) (298,299), which is itself prepared by the self-condensation of bennaldehyde (300). Ben nil is commercially produced in Japan and is used as a uv resin curing sensitizer (301). It has also been suggested as a chigger repeUant (302). 

During the press operation, which is actually a form of compression mol ding, the resin-treated laminate pHes are heated under pressure and the resins cured. The initial heating phases cause the resin to melt and flow into voids in the reinforcing ply and bond the individual pHes together. The appHed heat simultaneously causes the resin to polymerize and eventually to cross-link or gel. Therefore, resin viscosity reaches a minimum during the press cycle. This is the point at which the curing process becomes dominant over the melt flow process. Dynamic mechanical and dielectric analyses (11) are excellent tools for study of this behavior. 

Novolaks. Novolak resins are typically cured with 5—15% hexa as the cross-linking agent. The reaction mechanism and reactive intermediates have been studied by classical chemical techniques (3,4) and the results showed that as much as 75% of nitrogen is chemically bound. More recent studies of resin cure (42—45) have made use of tga, dta, gc, k, and nmr (15). They confirm that the cure begins with the formation of benzoxazine (12), progresses through a benzyl amine intermediate, and finally forms (hydroxy)diphenyknethanes (DPM). 

Laminates. Laminate manufacture involves the impregnation of a web with a Hquid phenoHc resin in a dip-coating operation. Solvent type, resin concentration, and viscosity determine the degree of fiber penetration. The treated web is dried in an oven and the resin cures, sometimes to the B-stage (semicured). Final resin content is between 30 and 70%. The dry sheet is cut and stacked, ready for lamination. In the curing step, multilayers of laminate are stacked or laid up in a press and cured at 150—175°C for several hours. The resins are generally low molecular weight resoles, which have been neutralized with the salt removed. Common carrier solvents for the varnish include acetone, alcohol, and toluene. Alkylated phenols such as cresols improve flexibiUty and moisture resistance in the fused products. 

PhenoHc and furfuryl alcohol resins have a high char strength and penetrate into the fibrous core of the fiber stmcture. The phenoHc resins are low viscosity resoles some have been neutralized and have the salt removed. An autoclave is used to apply the vacuum and pressure required for good impregnation and sufficient heat for a resin cure, eg, at 180°C. The slow pyrolysis of the part foUows temperatures of 730—1000°C are recommended for the best properties. On occasion, temperatures up to 1260°C are used and constant weight is possible even up to 2760°C (93). 

Mixed mono- and dialkyl are used as catalysts for resin curing and as intermediates for fire retardants, oil additives, antistatic agents (qv), and extraction solvents. An equimolar mixture of mono- and dialkyl acid phosphates are formed at a 1 6 mole ratio of oxide to alcohol. 

Copper naphthenate added to the resin at levels between 100—200 ppm effectively extends gel and cure characteristics, resulting in a reduction in exothermic heat (Eig. 7). Copper additives are used widely in commercial laminating resins to modify process exothermic effects. a-Methylstyrene [98-83-9] substituted for styrene at levels of 5—8% has also been used effectively in resins cured at above ambient temperatures. The inhibitor 2,5-di-/-butyIhydroquinone exerts significant exotherm suppression at levels of 200—400 ppm and is useful in high temperature mol ding processes. 

Studies of the particle—epoxy interface and particle composition have been helphil in understanding the mbber-particle formation in epoxy resins (306). Based on extensive dynamic mechanical studies of epoxy resin cure, a mechanism was proposed for the development of a heterophase morphology in mbber-modifted epoxy resins (307). Other functionalized mbbers, such as amine-terminated butadiene—acrylonitrile copolymers (308) and -butyl acrylate—acryhc acid copolymers (309), have been used for toughening epoxy resins. 

SUicones are suppUed as aqueous emulsions or as solvent solutions. Dow-Coming and OSi Specialties are primary manufacturers and suppUers. Emulsions are usuaUy appUed to fabrics by pa dding or exhaustion. Solvent solutions can be appUed by spraying. With either type of product, coappUcation of a catalyst is necessary. The level of sUicone soUds on the weight of fabric should be 0.5—1.5%. Most of the sUicone emulsions can be coappUed with durable-press resins. Curing occurs at about 150°C. 

Acryflc coating powders have achieved some success in Japan utilizing resins having gflcydyl methylacrylate functionality cured with C q—0 2 dicarboxyflc acids (49). Hybrid polyester—acryflc coating powders have also been reported in which an acid functional polyester resin coreacts with a glycidyl-containing acryflc polymer (50). Hydroxyl functional acryflc resins cured with blocked isocyanates have also been available for many years in the United States and achieved some commercial success as appliance finishes. 

Resin Cure. Resin cure systems yield carbon—carbon cross-links and, consequendy, thermally stable materials. Butyl mbber vulcanised with resins are used as tire-curing bladders, and have a life of 300—700 curing cycles at steam temperature of 175°C at about 20 m/cycle. 

Table 6. Comparative Properties of Bisphenol A—Epoxy Resins Cured with Different Hardeners ...

Ambient-cure systems are often based on lower molecular-weight soHd epoxy resins cured with aUphatic polyamines or polyamides. Curing normally occurs at ambient temperatures with a working life (pot life) of 8—24 h, depending on the formulation. Epoxy—poly amine systems are typically used for maintenance coatings in oil refineries, petrochemical plants, and in many marine appHcations. Such coverings are appHed by spray or bmsh. These are used widely where water immersion is encountered, particularly in marine appHcations (see COATINGS, MARINE). 

Resin cured butyl (HR) Acids Lyes Strong alkahes Strong phosphoric acid Dilute mineral acids Ketones Amines Water Fats and fatty acids Petroleum oils Chlorinated hydrocarbons Liquids with dissolved chlorine Mineral oil Oxygen rich demin. water Strong oxidants... 

A low tan S will mean a high degree of resin cure. Most insulation systems are composites of many materials. In practice, they almost always contain small voids. Consider a coil side with a single void. The voltage distribution across the insulation will be non-uniform, due to different permittivities of air and insulation. When a low voltage is applied, a proportion of this will appear across the... 

Polymer-matrix composites for aerospace and transport are made by laying up glass, carbon or Kevlar fibres (Table 25.1) in an uncured mixture of resin and hardener. The resin cures, taking up the shape of the mould and bonding to the fibres. Many composites are based on epoxies, though there is now a trend to using the cheaper polyesters. 

Figure 25.9. Typical exotherm curves for polyester resin cured with 1% benzoyl peroxide over a range of bath temperatures. (Test tubes of 19 mm dia are filled to height of 8 cm with a mixture of resin plus peroxide. The tubes are immersed in a glycerin bath to the level of the resin surface. Temperature is measured with a thermocouple needle whose point is half-way down the resin...

Heat distortion temperatures of resins cured with pyromellitic dianhydride are often quoted at above 200°C. The high heat distortion is no doubt also associated with the rigid linkages formed between epoxy molecules because of the nature of the anhydride. The use of these two anhydrides has, however, been restricted because of difficulties in incorporating them into the resin. 

Since these factors can have a considerable influence on properties it is difficult to give typical figures. Table 26.11 shows some quoted figures for glycidyl ether resin cured with diaminophenylmethane. The laminates were pressed at 400 Ibf/in (2.75 MPa) for one hour at 160°C and post-cured for eight hours at 60°C. 

Like the fluids, the silicone resins form useful release agents and although more expensive initially are more durable. The resin is applied in solution form and the coated surface is then dried and the resin cured by heating for about two hours at 200-230°C. The bakery industry has found a particular use for these materials in aiding the release of bread from baking pans. 

If a known adverse health effect can reasonably be anticipated under the circumstances of work - and could readily be observed - some form of heahh surveillance is appropriate. This may involve a doctor or trained nurse. It may include the checking of employees skin for dermatitis or asking questions relevant to any asthmatic condition where work is with recognized causative agents (e.g. epoxy resin curing agents). 

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