Amine-Cured Epoxy Resin Shear Modulus Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional epoxy resins cured with bulky curing agents often compromise mechanical properties like flexibility and strength, necessitating the use of impact modifiers that complicate the curing process and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
Curing epoxy resins with amine compounds such as diamines or triamines to optimize crosslink density and improve mechanical properties, including shear modulus and adhesion characteristics, particularly on low surface energy substrates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If traditional bulky curing agents are used to cure epoxy resins, then the curing process is simple and cost-effective, but the mechanical properties including flexibility, toughness, and strength are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical structure parameters of the curing agent by using amine compounds with specific molecular structures (primary, secondary, or tertiary amines) instead of traditional bulky curing agents. This parameter change in the curing agent's chemical composition enables the cured epoxy resin to achieve improved mechanical properties including flexibility, toughness, and strength while maintaining a relatively simple curing process
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material principles by combining epoxy resin with amine compounds to create a cured epoxy resin system that exhibits superior mechanical properties. The amine compound acts as a curing agent that forms a crosslinked network structure with the epoxy resin, creating a composite material system that achieves both strength and flexibility without requiring additional impact modifiers
2Strength
If impact modifiers are added in considerable amounts to offset the negative impact of bulky curing agents, then the mechanical properties improve, but the curing process becomes more complex and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the need for separate impact modifiers from the curing process by using amine compounds as curing agents that inherently provide the necessary mechanical properties. Instead of adding impact modifiers as separate additives, the amine compound curing agent directly forms a crosslinked network that provides both curing functionality and improved mechanical properties, thereby simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing costs
Solution Approach 2:
The amine compound serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the curing agent to convert epoxy resin from liquid to thermoset solid, and it also provides the improved mechanical properties including flexibility and toughness that would otherwise require separate impact modifiers. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional additives and simplifies the manufacturing process
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method results in cured epoxy resins with enhanced shear modulus and critical stress intensity factor, offering improved resistance to deformation and crack extension, while maintaining a balanced set of mechanical properties without the need for excessive impact modifiers.
Implementation Method 1
epoxy resins are converted from a liquid state to a thermoset solid by curing using a curing agent which becomes a part of the cured epoxy resin
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a cured epoxy resin and a method of forming a cured epoxy resin. The method comprises: curing an epoxy resin in the presence of an amine compound comprising a diamine, a triamine, or a mixture thereof. The cured epoxy resin has a shear modulus at failure of 55 MPa or more as determined in accordance with ASTM 5045-14.