Shrinkage epoxy resin

ASTM D883 defines a filler as "...a relatively inert material added to a plastic to modify its strength, permanence, working properties, or other quaHties or to lower costs." EiHers (qv) that modify the properties and characteristics of epoxies are employed in epoxy resins for a variety of reasons. Then principal functions are to control viscosity, reduce shrinkage and the coefficient of thermal expansion, effect a cost reduction, and color the epoxy resins. 

A variety of thermosetting resins are used in SMC. Polyesters represent the most volume and are available in systems that provide low shrinkage and low surface profile by means of special additives. Class A automotive surface requirements have resulted in the development of sophisticated systems that commercially produce auto body panels that can be taken direcdy from the mold and processed through standard automotive painting systems, without additional surface finishing. Vinyl ester and epoxy resins (qv) are also used in SMC for more stmcturaHy demanding appHcations. 

Epoxies. The unique chemical and physical properties such as excellent chemical and corrosion resistances, electrical and physical properties, excellent adhesion, thermal insulation, low shrinkage, and reasonable material cost have made epoxy resins (qv) very attractive in electronic apphcations. 

Sikes, A.M., Brady, R.F. (1990). Controlled shrinkage polymers Characterization of epoxy resins cured with spirobislaetones. J. Polym. Sci. Part A Polym. Chemistry 28, 2533-2546. 

The primary resin of interest is epoxy. Carbon-fiber-epoxy composites represent about 90% of CFRP production. The attractions of epoxy resins are that they polymerize without the generation of condensation products that can cause porosity, they exhibit little volumetric shrinkage during cure which reduces internal stresses, and they are resistant to most chemical environments. Other matrix resins of interest for carbon fibers include the thermosetting phenolics, polyimides, and polybismaleimides, as well as high-temperature thermoplastics such as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), polyethersulfone (PES), and polyphenylene sulfide. 

High adhesive properties As explained earlier, electromagnetic bonding forces, chemical reaction and relatively less shrinkage lead to strong bonds between epoxy resins and composite propellants and that is why epoxy resins are preferred for inhibition of composite propellants [337-339]. 

Eponite" 100. Shell Chemical Co trademark for a water-dispersible liquid epoxy resin used in textile industry to impart crease resistance, shrinkage, etc Ref CondChemDict(1961), 444-R... 

Since the epoxy resin cures primarily by a ring-opening mechanism, it exhibits a smaller degree of cure shrinkage than other thermosetting resins. In these reaction processes, the epoxy group may react in one of two different ways anionically and cationically. Both are of importance in epoxy resin chemistry. In the anionic mechanism, the epoxy group may be opened in various fashions to produce an anion, as shown in Fig. 2.10. 

Table 3.6 shows typical percentage volumetric shrinkage for various reactive adhesive systems during cure. One of the reasons for the great acceptance of epoxy resins as adhesive materials is their low degree of shrinkage on cure relative to other reactive adhesives. 

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