Selected Epoxy Resins

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Resin Epoxy equivalent weight unless indicated otherwise Comment Supplier 

DER317 192-203 16,000-25,000 Fast cure with polyamine-type curing agents Dow 

EPON 825 175-180 5,000-6,500 High-purity resin with strong crystallization tendency Resolution 

EPON 826 178-186 6,500-9,500 Provides good chemical resistance subject to crystallization when cold Resolution 

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The combination of arylonium salts with selected epoxy resins provides the essentials for a viable system of light-curable coatings and should invite further investigation. 

Table 13.3 Typical properties of selected epoxy resins based on bisphenol-A and epichlorhydrin...

Benzene, toluene, and xylene are made mosdy from catalytic reforming of naphthas with units similar to those already discussed. As a gross mixture, these aromatics are the backbone of gasoline blending for high octane numbers. However, there are many chemicals derived from these same aromatics thus many aromatic petrochemicals have their beginning by selective extraction from naphtha or gas—oil reformate. Benzene and cyclohexane are responsible for products such as nylon and polyester fibers, polystyrene, epoxy resins (qv), phenolic resins (qv), and polyurethanes (see Fibers Styrene plastics Urethane POLYiffiRs). 

Another important use of BCl is as a Ftiedel-Crafts catalyst ia various polymerisation, alkylation, and acylation reactions, and ia other organic syntheses (see Friedel-Crafts reaction). Examples include conversion of cyclophosphasenes to polymers (81,82) polymerisation of olefins such as ethylene (75,83—88) graft polymerisation of vinyl chloride and isobutylene (89) stereospecific polymerisation of propylene (90) copolymerisation of isobutylene and styrene (91,92), and other unsaturated aromatics with maleic anhydride (93) polymerisation of norhornene (94), butadiene (95) preparation of electrically conducting epoxy resins (96), and polymers containing B and N (97) and selective demethylation of methoxy groups ortho to OH groups (98). 

In one series of laboratory tests carried out to find the optimum wear resistance of heavy-duty epoxy resin flooring compositions, a number of different abrasion resistant materials were evaluated using BS 416, employing three different epoxy resin binders which themselves had significantly differing chemical compositions and mechanical properties. The results of this work, which was carried out under dry conditions, are given in Table 9.1. As can be seen from the table, the selection of the abrasion-resistant material and the resin matrix both influence the abrasion resistance of the system, although the abrasive material incorporated appears to play a more cmcial role. 

Coal tar epoxies These are a combination of epoxy resins and selected coal tars. Properties can vary, depending on the coal tar-to-epoxy ratio. The ideal compromise appears to be approximately 50/50. Coal tar epoxies are only available in black or dark brown. They cost less than straight epoxies and generally have better wetting properties, so they can be used on slightly less than perfect surface preparation. There are similar re-coating problems as for the two-pack epoxies. 

The crosslinking reactions are illustrated in Reaction 1.8, and they demonstrate that, in principle, only a trace of curing agent is necessary to bring about cure of epoxy resins. Selection of curing agent depends on various considerations, such as cost, ease of handling, pot life, cure rates, and the mechanical, electrical, or thermal properties required in the final resin. 

T. R. Dartez and R. K. Jones. Method for selectively treating wells with alow viscosity epoxy resin-forming composition. Patent US 5314023, 1994. 

In addition to the Bisphenol-A backbone epoxy resins, epoxies with substituted aromatic backbones and in the tri- and tetra- functional forms have been produced. Structure-property relationships exist so that an epoxy backbone chemistry can be selected for the desired end product property. Properties such as oxygen permeability, moisture vapor transmission and glass transition temperature have been related to the backbone structure of epoxy resins5). Whatever the backbone structure, resins containing only the pure monomeric form can be produced but usually a mixture of different molecular weight species are present with their distribution being dictated by the end-use of the resin. 

Drzal et al. 90) have investigated the effect of interphase modification on interfacial moisture absorption. The fibers used were a surface treated and a surface treated and finished type A carbon fiber in the same epoxy matrix studied previously. Three equilibrium exposure conditions were investigated. 20 °C, 70 °C and 120 °C were selected for moisture equilibration of single fiber samples and for the neat epoxy resin. The interfacial shear strength was measured both in the saturated and the dehydrated cases and compared to the initial dry values. 

Phenol has a wide range of uses, including in the preparation of phenolic and epoxy resins (bisphenol-A), nylon-6 (caprolactam), 2,4-D, selective solvents for refining lubricating oils, adipic acid, salicylic acid, phenolphthalein, pentachlorophenol and other derivatives in germicidal paints as a laboratory reagent and in dyes and indicators and as a slimicide, biocide and general disinfectant (Lewis, 1993). The world demand for phenol by use in 1993 was reported as (%) phenolic resins, 35 bisphenol-A, 30 caprolactam, 15 alkylphenols, 7 aniline, 5 and others, 8 (Wallace, 1996). 

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