Testing epoxy resin

ASTM has developed a Standard Guide for Testing Epoxy Resins, which covers several procedures that can be conducted on the same starting sample (e.g., viscosity, color, and density). Other contents of the standard include test methods for nonvolatile content, acid value, epoxy content, hydrolyzable chlorine, and total chlorine. The most important of these test methods are described below. 

Grade FR-4, continuous-filament glass cloth with an epoxy resin binder, is similar in all properties to Grade G-10, but so formulated to have at least a UL94 V-1 classification when tested according to UL94. 

Composite-Based Laminates. Grade CEM-1 are laminates with continuous-filament glass cloth surfaces and a cellulose core, all with a flame-resistant epoxy resin binder. With good punching practice, sheets up to and including 2.4 mm (0.094 in.) in thickness may be punched at temperatures not less than 23°C (73°F). These laminates meet UL94 V-0 when tested in accordance with UL94. 

When formulating a system for optimum abrasion resistance, both the epoxy/resin hardener binder system and the filler blends used appear to have an influence. The simulation of abrasive service loads on industrial floor toppings in a laboratory is not simple, and numerous wear test machines have been devised. Correlation between different wear test machines is not always good, although most... 

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. 

The most frequent causes of allergic contact dermatitis in the United States include plants (poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac), metallic salts, organic dyes, plastic resins, rubber additives, and germicides.74 The most common skin patch test allergens found to be positive in patients along with potential sources of exposure are shown in Table 32.1.75 In patients with occupational contact dermatitis who were skin patch tested, the common allergens included carba mix, thiuram mix, formaldehyde, epoxy resin, and nickel.76... 

Paper mill whitewaters and effluents are rich in bisphenol A (BPA), which is used in great quantities for the production of epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics. Its presence in effluents has been reported as a result of its use in the manufacture of thermal paper or due to migration from plastic containers at the high water temperatures of whitewaters [35]. This compound is preferably analysed by GC-MS. The levels encountered in paper mill effluents are between 28 and 72 pg/L [36,37]. Another study revealed levels up to 226 pg/L [33]. Special in vitro test systems and animal experiments have demonstrated a weak oestrogenicity for BPA. Since aquatic wildlife could be endangered by paper mill waste discharges at the concentration that BPA is found, its survey in paper mill effluents should be taken into consideration. 

While freshly cleaved surfaces clearly contain some steps and other defects, the surfaces are remarkably stable to corrosion. Dramatic evidence of the stability of MoSe2 surfaces was provided by Stickney et al. who obtained LEED and Auger spectra of surfaces that had been exposed to the atmosphere and a variety of oxidizing solutions (35). Except for the presence of a ubiquitous carbon which was attributed to the epoxy resin or cleaving tape, no evidence for surface reactions was found. Long term stability tests of a photoelectrochemical cell made with a WSe2 electrode, where over 400,000 coulombs/cm2 were passed through the cell with no detectable photocorrosion, also attest to the durability of these surfaces (36). 

In the print field the pigment is almost exclusively used in air drying systems. P.R.4 is very likely to bloom in stoving enamels. At only 120°C, the concentration limit for blooming is as low as 2.5%, and at 140°C the limit is at 5%, which makes it necessary to carry out test experiments. Application is consequently restricted to baking enamels targeted for low temperature purposes. In epoxy resins, the pigment turns brown, as does P.O.5, and is therefore unsuitable for use in these media. 

C 882 Test Method for Bond Strength of Epoxy-Resin Systems Used With Concrete C 884 Test Method for Thermal Compatability Between Concrete and an Epoxy-Resin Overlay... 

For quality cured thermoset resins, approximately one percent of the mass is soluble when subjected to long-term leaching with tetrahydrofuran. Equilibrium is approached in two weeks resin swell is not visually noticeable. The monomeric, chemical structures are such that the hydrocarbon resins exhibit more pronounced viscoelastic properties whereas, the epoxy resins are similar to elastic bodies when subjected to tensile testing at room temperature. Therein, LRF 216 is less sensitive to flaws and is more nonlinear in tensile or compressive stress-strain analysis. 

It has been noted in a round robin test of microcomposites that there arc large variations in test results for an apparently identical fiber and matrix system between 13 different laboratories and testing methods (Pitkethly et al., 1993). Table 3.1 and Fig 3.15 summarize the IFSS values of Courtaulds XA (untreated and standard surface treated) carbon fibers embedded in an MY 750 epoxy resin. It is noted that the difference in the average ISS values between testing methods, inclusive of the fiber fragmentation test, fiber pull-out test, microdebond test and microindentation test, are as high as a factor of 2.7. The most significant variation in ISS is obtained in the fiber pull-out /microdebond tests for the fibers with prior surface treatments, and the microindentation test shows the least variation. 

Ikuta, N., Maekawa, Z., Hamada, H, Ichihashi, M. and Nishio, E. (1991). Evaluation of interfacial properties in glass fiber-epoxy resin compositcs-reconsideration of an embedded single filament shear-strength test. J. Mater. Sci. 26, 4663-4666. 

Ellis C.D. and Harris B. (1973). The effect of specimen and testing variables on the fracture of some fiber reinforced epoxy resins. J. Composite Mater. 7, 76-88. 

Patrikis. A.K., Andrews, M.C. and Young, R.J. (1994). Analysis of the single fiber pull-out test by the use of Raman spectroscopy part I Pull-out of aramid fibers from an epoxy resin. Composites Sci. Technol. 52, 387 396. 

Materials Description. Three CIBA-GEIGY epoxy/hardener systems were studied Araldite 6010/906, Araldite 6010/HY 917 and Araldite 6010/972 with stoichiometries 100/80, 100/80 and 100/27, respectively. Araldite 6010 was a DGEBA epoxy resin. The hardeners 906, HY 917 and 972 were, respectively, methyl nadic anhydride (MNA), methyltetrahydro phthalic anhydride (MTPHA) and methylene dianiline (MDA). These systems were investigated previously for the matrix controlled fracture in composites (6-8). The curing cycles used can be found in (6). The ideal chemical structures of the systems are shown in Table I. Neat resins were thoroughly degassed and cast into 1.27 cm thick plates for preparation of test specimens. 

Persistent photosensitivity developed in eight men after occupational exposure to hot epoxy resin fiimes. The condition was limited to sites contacted by the resin. Small doses of ultraviolet-A light evoked abnormal reactions consisting of erythema, edema, and papules in the clinically involved skin. Positive photopatch tests were observed to epoxy resin in four subjects and to bisphenol A in all subjects. Another study showed that bisphenol A can be released during the thermal decomposition of epoxy resin in the temperature range of 250-350°C. Photosensitizing activity was explained by the formation of ftee radicals during exposure to ultraviolet-B radiation of bisphenol A vapor, to form a semiquinone derivative of bisphenol A ... 

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