Properties and Characteristics of Epoxy Resins

In the technical textile industry composite and some textile material combining and scheduling commonly used polyester resins, vinyl-ester resins and epoxy resins. Not like other two types epoxy resins have specific characteristics and properties. First one is chemical stability and it means after producing end product has good resistant to the chemical impacts. This chemical stability comes due to either linkage. Epoxy resins have high reaction according to the hydroxyl groups and which helps to combine strongly with fiber and generate strong composite complex. And another word I can say epoxy resins have excellent adhesion to surface area. These polymers are very low electrical conductivity hence suitable for industrial applications such as personal protective equipment. And also epoxy resins have more co-polymers and they are helps to combine with most of surfaces, fibers and make easily composites hence, ability to use with lot of applications in the technical textiles industry. Epoxy resins are belonging to thermosets according to the following epoxy ring structure.

And also according to the chemical configure of epoxy resins have very good stiffness characteristics and has good toughness. And also I above told epoxy resins have theromoset property and it is affected to increase heat resistance properties. When we consider another characteristics and advantages of epoxy resins can be explained as above I told mechanical properties and its resistance or environmental degradation which makes the resin system especially attractive and suitable for the aircraft industry. And also another important property of epoxy resin we can see the water resistance and in the marine industry commonly used epoxy resins. Epoxy resins are easily reacting and set with other fibers and molecules with 10⁰C- 150⁰C temperature range and to obtain best results need to be used proper curing agents.

Curing process can be shown as below picture. And here hardener molecules have two reactive ends and, they willing to react with two ends molecules of epoxy resins complex.

According to the various properties and characteristics varieties of epoxy resins can be seen in the technical textiles manufacturing and they are,

·         Epoxy novolac

·         Brominated epoxy resins

·         Cycloaliphatic epoxy resins

·         Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A

·         Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F

·         Multifunctional epoxy resins, etc

And also for hardeners we can see in the industry following chemicals

·         Aromatic amines

·         Formulated anhydrides

·         Phenalkamaines

·         Cycloaliphatic

·         Boron trichloride with amines, etc.

When we compare epoxy resins with polyester resins we can tell adhesion, shear strength, thermal stability, electrical resistance, solvent resistance are higher than polyester resins. As a summary I can finally explain that according to the various manners epoxy resins are commonly applied to coating of paint and lacquer, aerospace industry, personal protection equipments, automotive components, adhesives and sealants, etc. The dulux paint is the best example for epoxy coating application in the Sri Lanka.