Epoxy curatives: product lines reviewed.

ABATRON, INC.

Company offers amines and anhydrides as room-temperature, high-temperature and latent epoxy catalysts.

ACME DIV./ALLIED PRODUCTS CORP.

Supplies anhydride and amine-type epoxy curing agents for electrical encapsulation.

AEROJET SOLID PROPULSION CO.

Offers its Accelerator AMC-2, which is specifically for acid-epoxy reactions and is used in preparation of beta-hydroxyester adducts. Its Accelerator ATC-3 will catalyze acid-epoxy reactions, but is recommended for anhydride-epoxy reactions. Both accelerators reportedly give faster cure rates than standard catalysts with almost no side reactions or homopolymerization.

AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS, INC. See Pacific Anchor Chemical Corp.

AJINOMOTO USA, INC.

Company offers two lines of Japanese epoxy curing agents:

* Ajicure consists of two proprietary products, which can be used alone or together as latent curing agents in single-component epoxy systems with shelf lives up to three months at 104 F. Cure temperatures can be as low as 176 F. Cure time is one hour at 212 F or 30 min at 248 F. Cured |T.sub.g~ can be up to 260 F. Ajicure products can also be used as accelerators for epoxy/dicyandiamide or epoxy/anhydride systems and reportedly afford longer shelf life, reduced volatiles, and lower cure temperatures, while enhancing physical and thermal properties.

* Yse-Cure is based on spiroacetal, a heterocyclic diamine. The 16 grades are designed for two-component, room-temperature curing systems. Epoxies cured with these products reportedly have at least double the toughness, flexibility, and thermal-shock resistance obtained with aliphatic amines and polyamides. They are also said to provide outstanding weatherability, clarity, adhesion to wet surfaces, and ability to cure at temperatures down to 41 F.

AKZO CHEMICALS INC. INDUSTRIAL CHEMICALS DIV.

Offers Armocure aliphatic polyamines, which reportedly provide flexibility, water resistance, solvent resistance, and low viscosity in casting and coating. They're also recommended for adhesives where resistance to solvents and water are important, and for laminating. Armocure is said to help produce castings that are tough, flexible, resistant to freeze-thaw cycles, and curable at relatively low temperatures.

ANHYDRIDES & CHEMICALS, INC.

Offers anhydride-type curing agents for epoxy resins, including monoanhydrides, dianhydrides, and polyanhydrides. These anhydrides find use in filament winding, pultrusion, prepreg manufacture, potting and encapsulation, powder coating, and vacuum-pressure impregnation. Cured properties range from hard, high-|T.sub.g~ (525 F) materials to flexible rubber-like materials. Electrical performance may meet class H, N, or R requirements; and thermal shock resistance from 355 F to -85 F, even after heat aging at 355 F for over 1000 hr, is achievable. Systems exhibiting high wet-strength retention and near-zero moisture permeability also can be obtained. Colors of cured epoxy resin vary from dark brown to water white.

BACON INDUSTRIES, INC.

Offers a full line of proprietary epoxy curing agents for use with companion adhesive and potting compounds.

BUCKMAN LABORATORIES, INC.

Bulab tertiary amine catalysts are based on TMEDA (tetramethylethylene diamine). Both Bulab 600 and anhydrous TMEDA are fast-acting, stable catalysts.

BUFFALO COLOR CORP.

Among several anhydride curatives available is liquid Nadic methyl anhydride (NMA), which is recommended for electrical applications that require minimum shrinkage at high temperatures.

DDSA (dodecenyl succinic anhydride) is offered for producing tougher, more flexible cured polymers; Succinic anhydride (SAA) is recommended for applications where a dibasic acid anhydride is desired; and HHPA (hexahydrophthalic anhydride) hardener is also recommended for curing epoxies.

CHEMREX INC.

Offers formulated liquid amines, polyamides, anhydrides, and Lewis acids, both filled and unfilled.

CIBA-GEIGY CORP. PLASTICS DIV.

A broad line of epoxy hardeners and catalysts is offered, including aliphatic polyamines, aliphatic and aromatic polyamine adducts, anhydrides and polyamides. Specialty hardeners are also offered, including XU HY 360 100%-solids, modified polyamidoamine with a viscosity of approximately 300-500 cp at room temperature.

CONAP INC.

Offers Conacure EA-Series epoxy hardeners for various potting and encapsulating applications, offering such properties as room-temperature cure, heat-curing systems with long pot life, flexible and rigid systems, good chemical resistance, and good electrical properties.

DOW CHEMICAL CO.

Offers a broad line of polyamine curing agents used in epoxy applications such as adhesives, molding and tooling. Included are aliphatic amine compounds such as D.E.H. 20 (diethylene triamine), D.E.H. 24 (triethylene tetramine) and D.E.H. 26 (tetraethylene pentamine).

Adducts of some of these amines that reportedly provide fast cure and low vapor pressure are also available. Less critical ratios are said to improve handling characteristics. D.E.H. 52 and 58 are typical of this product type.

EPIC RESINS

Offers modified aliphatic amine blends for replacing MDA-type hardeners. Epamine 7044 and 9000 reportedly feature reduced toxicity, glass-transition temperature of 302 F, 4700 psi lap shear, low viscosity, and excellent electrical characteristics at low and high temperatures. Epamine 9000 is designed for high-tech casting and laminating applications.

ETHYL CORP. CHEMICALS GROUP

Company's Ethacure 100 curing agent is a clear, light-red, low-viscosity liquid aromatic diamine. It reportedly does not have the staining characteristics of MPDA (metaphenylenediamine) nor the toxicological concerns associated with MDA (methylenedianiline). As a low-viscosity liquid, it is said to be easily mixed with epoxy resins, and the resulting mixture reportedly will have a longer pot life than systems containing MPDA or MDA. Exotherm during cure is low and allows casting of large parts. Cured materials are said to exhibit high deflection temperatures, excellent chemical resistance, and good retention of mechanical properties at elevated temperatures.

FURANE PRODUCTS CIBA-GEIGY CORP.

A broad range of custom-formulated epoxy curing agents is available, including anhydride, amine, cycloaliphatic and polyamide types. High-performance hardeners are available for high-temperature performance, thermal-shock resistance, chemical resistance, and other special effects. They can be activated by heat or ambient conditions. Catalytic hardeners are also available.

GEORGIA-PACIFIC RESINS, INC. SUB. OF GEORGIA-PACIFIC CORP.

Offers a line of phenolic resins for use as hardeners in epoxy crosslinking systems. Designed for use in molding materials, laminates, coatings and adhesives, the resins are suited to the electronics industry for encapsulated semiconductors, discrete devices, and general-purpose components. The phenolic hardeners have high, medium, and low molecular weights with melt viscosities ranging from 500 to 7000 cp.

HEXCEL CHEMICAL PRODUCTS

A full line of epoxy curing agents is offered for laminating, filament winding, tooling, and custom formulating. Apco 2330 is a 100%-aromatic epoxy curing agent containing no MDA; Apco 2180, an aliphatic amine, is a room-temperature curing agent; Apco Safe-T-Poxy 2183 is a nonirritant, room-temperature hardener; and Apco 2320, an aromatic amine, is a high-temperature hardener.

LEEPOXY PLASTICS, INC.

Supplies a series of boron trifluoride-based liquid epoxy curing agents for use with all commercially available epoxy resins. They range in reactivity from Leecure B-610, which provides a cure at room temperature in less than one minute, to Leecure B-1550, which provides a four-month, stable one-component system curing in 1 hr at 300 F. These curing agents are said to provide heat-, water-, and chemical-resistant systems. They are used in a variety of applications: glass-reinforced laminates for aerospace and automotive use, electronic potting compounds, electrical varnishes, adhesives, tooling parts, and discreet products like corrosion-resistant pipe fittings and grating.

MARUZEN AMERICA INC.

Offers Maruka Lyncur M poly p-vinyl phenol and Lyncur MB, a brominated version of poly p-vinyl for use with almost all types of epoxies. Products reportedly cure rapidly without generating volatiles, and resulting resins are said to exhibit better thermal and dimensional stability and chemical resistance than conventional systems. Superior electrical properties in molding and casting applications are also claimed. Lyncur MB is said to add flame retardancy. Applications include printed circuit boards, integrated-circuit substrates, and high-temperature films.

MERECO PRODUCTS DIV. METACHEM RESINS CORP.

Metre-Cure series of catalytic epoxy resin hardeners has been developed for diverse applications. Users can enhance or tailor properties such as adhesion, flexibility, heat and moisture resistance, electrical insulation, and hardness by selecting the proper Metre-Cure Activator.

MILLIKEN CHEMICAL CO.

Makes three anhydrides and an amine epoxy curing agent: dodecenylsuccinic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride, and a cycloalaphatic diamine known as Millamine 5260.

MOONEY CHEMICALS, INC. See OM Group, Inc.

MORTON INTERNATIONAL, INC. SPECIALTY CHEMICALS GROUP

Several quaternary organophosphonium salts are available. Products are reported to be efficient latent-curing catalysts and latent accelerators for epoxies and other materials. Benzyltriphenylphosphonium chloride, ethyltriphenylphosphonium iodide, ethyltriphenylphosphonium acid acetate (70% in methanol) and tetrabutylphosphonium acid acetate (70% in methanol) are currently offered.

NEW ENGLAND RESINS & PIGMENTS

Offers polyamides, anhydrides, and aliphatic, amido, cycloaliphatic, aromatic, tertiary, and boron trifluoride amines.

OM GROUP, INC.

Offers epoxy catalysts, which include cobalt, calcium, zirconium and rare-earth octoate, naphthenate, and neodecanoate.

PACIFIC ANCHOR CHEMICAL CORP. AIR PRODUCTS AND CHEMICALS INC.

Product line includes eleven general types of epoxy catalysts:

* Aliphatic amines for fast cure at room temperature.

* Tertiary amine accelerators.

* Aromatic amines for good chemical resistance.

* Cycloaliphatic amines for good color stability, impact resistance and electrical properties.

* Polyamides for flexibility.

* Amido-amines for low viscosity and rapid cure.

* Anhydrides for filament-wound pipe.

* Latent boron trifluoride-amine complexes, with a pot life ranging from three hours to six months, designed for laminates, hot-dip coatings, encapsulation and adhesives.

* Imidazoles with long pot life and high HDT, for potting, casting and encapsulation.

* Dicyandiamide, pulverized and unpulverized.

* Diluents for all types of epoxy systems.

POLYPRODUCTS CORP.

Formulates curing agents for epoxy resin systems used in difficult applications, primarily automotive. System 21-116 can be used to repair surface defects in molded foam auto parts. System 21-117 has been used to make unfilled epoxy castings of 750 lb by controlled exotherm process.

REICHHOLD CHEMICALS, INC. REACTIVE POLYMERS DIV.

Epotuf epoxy hardeners are available for a variety of applications. Generic hardeners include modified aliphatic and cycloaliphatic polyamines, polyamides and polyamide solutions, amidopolyamines, and anhydrides. Choices available within hardeners allow formulating with a complete range of handling characteristics and final cured properties.

ROHM AND HAAS CO.

Supplies DMP-10 and DMP-30 aromatic amines as epoxy curing agents.

SKW CHEMICALS, INC.

Dyhard line offers a complete line of dicyandiamide-based epoxy resin hardeners and a variety of hardener/accelerator blends. The premier product in the line, Dyhard 100S, is a micropulverized dicyandiamide, homogeneously ground to 98% less than 10 microns. This fine grade of dicyandiamide is also available predispersed with a choice of accelerators, including diuron, fenuron, chlortolurone, or a new TDI bifunctional uron.

Also offers a wide range of imidazole accelerators, including 2-methylimidazole, 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole, and 2-phenylimidazole, as well as several developmental types. A new blocked imidazole is now available in limited quantities.

SCHERING BERLIN POLYMERS INC.

Offers a full line of amine-based epoxy curing agents for a broad range of end uses. Product line includes reactive polyamides, amido amines, aromatic amines, cycloaliphatic amines, and aliphatic amines.

SHELL CHEMICAL CO.

Epoxy curing agents for use in all epoxy application arenas include aromatic amines, ketamines, polyamides, polyamine adducts and salts, and accelerated amines.

SIGMA PLASTRONICS

Offers Barrier amine-type epoxy hardeners, which are said to be extremely resistant to moisture and corrosion and are recommended for use in encapsulating resins for high-reliability electronic devices and for underwater applications.

TEXACO CHEMICAL CO.

Company's Jeffamine polyoxypropyleneamine curing agents for epoxies include Jeffamine D-230, D-400 and D-2000 diamines; and a triamine, Jeffamine T-403. Products are said to offer low viscosities and little color, while providing long pot life. They are used for casting, adhesives, encapsulation, flooring compounds, and laminates. When Jeffamine compounds are used with Texaco's Accelerator 399, cure rates are significantly increased.

Company also offers diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, aminoethylpiperazine, dimethylaminopropylamine, nonyl phenol and other experimental Jeffamine products for use in epoxy curing. New products include Jeffamine T5000 and Jeffamine BuD-2000, which provide good adhesion and thermal shock resistance. Recently developed Jeffamine EDR-148 is said to be about four times more reactive than standard Jeffamine products.

THERMOSET PLASTICS INC.

Company custom formulates a variety of epoxy hardeners for specific end-use applications. Formulating is done with aliphatic amine, anhydride, polyamide, Lewis-acid, and cycloaliphatic chemistries. These curing agents are often used in electrical/electronics, molding/tooling, and construction. Many hardeners are off-the-shelf, and others can be provided on a special batch basis.

3M CO.

Offers seven phenalkamine curing agents for epoxy flooring compounds and industrial maintenance coatings. Products reportedly are relatively low in toxicity and may be used over a wide range of mixing ratios for most epoxy room-temperature applications. Company supplies reactive dilutions said to speed cures without shortening pot life.

TOSOH USA, INC.

Offers a full line of amine-based epoxy curing agents for a broad range of end uses. Product line includes reactive polyamides, amido amines, polyamines, and ethylene amines. Liquid anhydride hardeners for low exotherm, adhesion, electrical, and thermal properties are also available.

UNION CAMP CORP.

Uni-Rez epoxy curing agents include reactive polyamides and amidoamines used in floor toppings, grouts, potting compounds, and laminates.

UNION CARBIDE CHEMICALS & PLASTICS CO., INC.

Industrial Chemicals Div. offers Bakelite epoxy curing agents, which include Naminoethyl piperazine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine and tetraethylenepentamine.

UNION CARBIDE CHEMICALS & PLASTICS CO., INC.

Specialty Chemicals Div. offers epoxy curing agents, which include polyglycoldiamine H-221, polyglycolamine H- 163, and dimethylaminopropylamine.

UNIROYAL CHEMICAL CO., INC.

Company's Tonox, Tonox MDA, Tonox LC and Tonox 60/40 are aromatic diamine curatives for epoxies and urethanes and are said to offer excellent physical, chemical and electrical properties:

* Tonox is a solid which melts to a low-viscosity liquid.

* Tonox MDA is pure methylene dianiline.

* Tonox LC is a high-viscosity liquid exhibiting long pot life.

* Tonox 60/40 is a low-viscosity liquid leading to faster epoxy curing.

Products are used in epoxy casting, pipe, electrical and electronic applications.