Conceptual knowledge of epoxy resin

What is thermosetting resin?

Thermosetting resin or thermosetting resin is a polymer that is cured or shaped into a hard shape using curing methods such as heating or radiation. The curing process is an irreversible process. It crosslinks a polymer network through a covalent chemical bond.

After heating, the thermosetting material remains solid until the temperature reaches the temperature at which it begins to degrade. This mechanism is opposite to that of thermoplastic plastics. Several examples of thermosetting resins are:
Phenolic resin

• Amino resin
• Polyester resin
• Silicone resin
• Epoxy resin, and
• Polyurethane resin

Among them, epoxy resin or phenolic resin is one of the most common thermosetting resins. Nowadays, they are widely used in structural and special composite material applications. Due to their high strength and stiffness (due to their high cross-linking), they are almost suitable for any application.

What are the main types of epoxy resins used in composite materials?

The three main types of epoxy resins used in composite material applications are:

• Phenolic aldehyde glycidyl ether
• Aromatic glycidyl amine
• Cyclic aliphatic compounds

What are the key properties of epoxy resin?

We have listed below the key properties provided by epoxy resin.

• High strength
• Low shrinkage rate
• Has good adhesion to various substrates
• Effective electrical insulation
• Chemical resistance and solvent resistance, as well as
• Low cost and low toxicity

Epoxy resins are easy to cure and are compatible with most substrates. They are easy to wet the surface and are particularly suitable for composite material applications. Epoxy resin is also used to modify several polymers, such as polyurethane or unsaturated polyester. They enhance their physical and chemical properties. For thermosetting epoxy resins:

• The tensile strength range is from 90 to 120MPa
• The range of tensile modulus is 3100 to 3800MPa
• The glass transition temperature (Tg) range is 150 to 220 ° C

Epoxy resin has two main drawbacks, namely its brittleness and water sensitivity.