Epoxy Resin Composition with Boron Trihalide-Amine Complex

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Solution Overview

Problem

Epoxy resin compositions used in pressure vessels face challenges with storage stability, pot life, viscosity, and void generation, which affect the performance and productivity of fiber-reinforced composite materials, particularly in filament winding molding and prepreg applications.

Innovation Solution

An epoxy resin composition combining a bifunctional or tetrafunctional epoxy resin with a boron trihalide-amine complex and rubber particles, optimized for low viscosity, long pot life, and improved handling, impregnation, and toughness, enabling excellent reelability, processability, and drape properties in tow prepregs and filament winding molding.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If acid anhydride is used as curing agent to lower viscosity, then viscosity is reduced and handleability is improved, but pot life becomes short and storage stability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovehandleabilityVSAvoidpot life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical parameters of the curing agent system by using a polyfunctional amine curing agent instead of acid anhydride, and by controlling the stoichiometric ratio of epoxy groups to amino groups between 0.8:1 and 1.2:1. This parameter change maintains low viscosity while extending pot life and improving storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite curing system combining polyfunctional amine with specific epoxy resin components, where the synergistic interaction between components achieves both low viscosity and extended pot life, resolving the contradiction between handleability and storage stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Duration of action of moving object

If solid curing agent such as dicyandiamide is used to extend pot life, then storage stability is improved, but viscosity increases and voids are generated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepot lifeVSAvoidhandleability
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical state parameter of the curing agent from solid (dicyandiamide) to liquid (polyfunctional amine), which maintains low viscosity and good handleability while achieving extended pot life through the chemical structure of the polyfunctional amine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the traditional solid curing agent with a liquid polyfunctional amine that provides comparable or superior pot life extension without the harmful side effects of increased viscosity and void formation, effectively substituting a problematic material with a superior alternative.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Ease of manufacture

If acid anhydride is used to achieve low viscosity, then impregnation performance is improved, but storage stability deteriorates and productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpregnation performanceVSAvoidstorage stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by using polyfunctional amine curing agents with specific structural characteristics that maintain low viscosity for good impregnation performance while providing excellent storage stability, eliminating the need for frequent facility maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The epoxy resin composition with polyfunctional amine curing agent provides self-stabilizing properties during storage, maintaining its low viscosity and impregnation performance without requiring external stabilization measures or frequent facility maintenance, thereby improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Stability of the object's composition

If solid curing agent is used to extend storage stability, then pot life is improved, but voids are generated in reinforcing fiber composite material

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestorage stabilityVSAvoidvoid formation
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the curing agent from solid to liquid form, which eliminates void formation during impregnation while maintaining extended storage stability through the molecular structure of polyfunctional amine curing agents.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces solid curing agents that cause void formation with liquid polyfunctional amine curing agents that eliminate this harmful effect while achieving comparable or superior storage stability, effectively substituting a problematic material with a superior alternative.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Data Source

PatentEP2857428B1Epoxy resin composition
Publication Date: 2020.09.23 MITSUBISHI CHEM CORP
  • EP2857428B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP2857428B1 patent drawingFigure 4
  • EP2857428B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An epoxy resin composition, the epoxy resin composition including components (A1) to (C1) described below, wherein the content of the component (B1) is 8 to 20 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the component (A1), and the content of the component (C1) is 12 to 110 parts by mass relative to 100 parts by mass of the component (A1):component (A1): an epoxy resin; component (B1): a boron trihalide-amine complex; and component (C1): rubber particles.