Reinforcing resin

Fig. 7. Schematic of a self-contained plasma processing unit designed to continuously plasma-treat and impregnate with resin, reinforcing fibers for enhanced composite strength. The unit can also be used to plasma-treat wires to be coated or treated for improved adhesion. Throughput speeds of over...

It is important to note that reinforced plastics remain a combination of materials differing in form or composition on a macro scale. The main constituents (resin, reinforcement, and filler) retain their identities and do not dissolve or merge into each other rather, they act in concert. These components can be physically identified and exhibit an interface between each other. 

Reinforcing Resins. Reinforcement and stiffness of a compound can also be achieved with the use of reactive resins. Resins consisting of two-component systems of resorcinol or resorcinol condensation products and a methylene donor such as hexamethoxymethylmel amine (HMMM) or hexamethyltetramine (HMT) are the most popular in tires. These materials can be prereacted and added to the formula, or for more effective results they can react in situ ie, they can be added separately into the formula and react when the tire is vulcanized. 

Polyester Resins. Reinforced polyester resins are thermosets based on unsaturated polyesters from glycols and dibasic acids, either or both of which contain reactive double bonds. The ratio of saturated to unsaturated components controls the degree of cross-linking and thus the rigidity of the product (see Polyesters, unsaturated). Typically, the glycols and acids are esterified until a viscous Hquid results, to which an inhibitor is added to prevent premature gelation. Addition of the monomer, usually styrene, reduces the viscosity to an easily workable level. 

PEI resins reinforced with up to 40 wt % fiber glass are available. The American Cyanamid Co. uses an Ultem-type resin with carbon fibers to form their Cypac 1000 series prepregs (31). The moisture content of the resin must be less than 0.05% prior to melt processing to minimise thermal degradation. 

Polyester resins, reinforced with fiberglass, have good strength and good chemical resistance except to alkalies. Some special materials in this class, based on bisphenol and vinyl esters are more alkali-... 

Epoxide resins reinforced with carbon and Aramid fibres have been used in small boats, where it is claimed that products of equal stiffness and more useable space may be produced with a 40% saving in weight over traditional polyester/ glass fibre composites. Aramid fibre-reinforced epoxide resins have been developed in the United States to replace steel helmets for military purposes. Printed circuit board bases also provide a substantial outlet for epoxide resins. One recent survey indicates that over one-quarter of epoxide resin production in Western Europe is used for this application. The laminates also find some use in chermical engineering plant and in tooling. 

Membranes are applied directly to the metal or concrete surface to protect from corrosion by any liquor that penetrates the brick lining through pores and cracks. Membranes consist of sheet material bonded to the metal or concrete, e.g., flexible PVC sheet, or it may be formed in situ (e.g., polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber, or synthetic rubber sheet, lead, polyisobutylene, polyethylene and asphalt). 

Polyester resins, reinforced with glass fibers, are used widely in the construction of process equipment. Some physical and mechanical properties are presented in Table 3.48. Table 3.49 lists various materials used as filler and the properties they impart to different plastics. 

The polyester resins, reinforced with glass fibre, are the most common thermosetting plastics used for chemical plant. Complex shapes can be easily formed using the techniques developed for working with reinforced plastics. Glass-reinforced plastics are relatively... 

The dentin-adhesive interface has been studied using a Raman microprobe technique [199], which shows the formation of resin-reinforced dentin and the penetration of resin into dentin substrate to a depth of 5-6 microns. Further study of the interface showed that only small molecules such as MMA, 4-MET (hydrolyzed 4-META) or oligomers infiltrated the dentin, and that all of the resin in the dentin originated from the monomer solution [200]. SEM and TEM studies of the ultrastructure of the resin-dentin interdiffusion zone showed a 2 micron zone with closely packed collagen fibrils running parallel to the interface [201]. 

Similar to composite propellants, flexibilized epoxy or novolac epoxy resins reinforced with fillers or fibers are used for inhibition of fuel-rich propellants. 

Tt always seems fitting at the start of a new decade to look back on the previous one. The topic of fibrous glass composites is no exception. As a clarification, the term fibrous glass composites as used here refers to thermosetting and thermoplastic molding resins reinforced with fibrous glass. 

Consider a composite made from plastic resin reinforced by glass fibers. The glass has a density of 2.3 g/cm3 and the resin has a density of 0.95 g/cm3. If the glass fibers occupy 45% of the volume, how many pounds of resin would be required to make 4 in3 of composition ... 

Synthetic stocks are gradually replacing the traditional wooden stock due to their cheapness, ease of manufacture, lighter weight, and wear ability, and are claimed to be more stable and easier to maintain than wooden stocks. Materials such as nylon, polyurethane, fiberglass, Kevlar reinforced with fiberglass or carbon fiber, or thermoplastic resin reinforced with glass and ceramics may be used. The stocks may be hollow, or have a hollow filled... 

A new approach was proposed for making effective helmets which could replace the former British army steel helmet. Essentially the new helmet used modified phenolic resins reinforced with nylon, and the crown cap inside was thermoformed from polyethylene. Formerly the crown cap was attached to the steel by rivets—not an appropriate method for fixing polyethylene to reinforced plastics. Instead a method was developed with a hot-melt adhesive based on ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers cast as film on release paper. For assembly, the cast film is cut in advance to match the intricate shape required and activated by heat to bond under light pressure subsequently, a further heat activation is employed to fix the crown cap in place (Figure 52 illustrates this). 

Composite—A material that contains two or more structurally different components with properties different from that of any individual component. Examples include crosslinked polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber and rubber filled with carbon black. 

Lee (41, 42) offers a valuable contribution on the mechanism of reinforcement and especially on the role of adhesion and wetting in elastomeric adhesives, pressure-sensitive tapes, nonpigmented organic coatings, and composites such as resin-reinforced rubbers or thermoplastics. I am sure it will generate much discussion. Lee (43) presents a... 

Rubber as the Disperse Phase. In polyblend systems, a rubber is masticated mechanically with a polymer or dissolved in a polymer solution. At the conclusion of blending, a rubber is dispersed in a resin as particles of spherical or irregular shape. We can further subdivide this system into three classes according to the major intermolecular forces governing adhesion (a) by dispersion forces—e.g., the polyblend of two incompatible polymers, (b) by dipole interaction—e.g., the polyblend of polyvinyl chloride and an acrylonitrile rubber (56), and (c) by covalent bond—e.g., an epoxy resin reinforced with an acid-containing elastomer reported by McGarry (43). 

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