Epoxy resin composition

Abstract: A composition comprising a curable epoxy resin, a reactive diluent, a curing agent for the epoxy resin, and an isocyanate compound which is stable at room temperature for extended periods of time and cures to form a part which has good high-temperature properties.

Description: This invention relates to epoxy resin compositions which can be pre-mixed and stored but cure rapidly under subsequently-imposed curing conditions. Polyester resins are often fabricated into moulded parts using a sheet moulding compound (SMC) technique. In this process, a styrene solution of carboxyl-terminated polyester is mixed with a peroxide (or other initiator), a thickening agent such as magnesium oxide, and a filler such as calcium carbonate or clay. This liquid mixture is then mixed with chopped fiberglass between two sheets of polyethylene film, and air bubbles are removed by squeeze rolls. Over 1-2 days, the viscosity increases from an initial value near 1 Pa.s to several thousand Pa.s. The increase in viscosity is caused by reaction of the carboxyl end groups of the polyester with magnesium oxide to form polymeric magnesium carboxylates. The viscosity reaches a plateau after the magnesium oxide is consumed. The SMC then has a leathery consistency, suitable for draping into a mould. The viscosity remains relatively constant for three months or longer, which constitutes the "moulding window" of the SMC. If the viscosity is too low, liquid resin will squirt out of the mould during moulding. If the viscosity becomes too high, the SMC will be "boardy" and difficult to drape, and it may not have sufficient flow to fill the mould completely. Almost all commercially-available polyester resins have values of heat distortion temperature (HDT) below 120°C, while much higher HDT's can be obtained with epoxy resins. An epoxy resin processable as SMC by polyester-type techniques would therefore be highly desirable. To prepare such a material would be difficult, however, because of the different cure behavior of polyesters and epoxies. Polyester resins cure by a radical mechanism based on dissociation of an initiator to give radicals which initiate copolymerization of the styrene diluent with the maleate and fumarate groups of the polyester chain. The decomposition rate of most radical initiators is very sharply dependent on temperature. Epoxy resins cure with almost all curing agents by ionic processes which are much less temperature dependent. Hence it is much more difficult with epoxies than with polyesters to obtain a stable mixture at room temperature which cures rapidly at high temperatures. Styrene-diluted epoxy systems cured with trimellitic anhydride (TMA) have been used to produce epoxy-based SMC for certain high-temperature applications. However, the viscosity of such systems continues to increase after reaching the desired level instead of forming a plateau. The moulding window of this SMC is only about 2 days unless it is refrigerated, making it impossible to ship the SMC. Other epoxy curing agents such as aromatic amines give similarly short moulding windows. In French patent application 2,565,986 thermocurable compositions are described comprising a trifunctional vinyl compound, e.g. tri-hydroxyethyl isocyanurate tri-acrylate, a phenoxy resin, an epoxy compound comprising at least two epoxy groups, an epoxy curing compound and optionally a vinyl monomer. It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a latent-curing epoxy resin system suitable for use in sheet-moulding applications. According to the invention, a composition is provided comprising (a) an epoxy resin; (b) a phenolic curing agent for the epoxy resin; (c) 15 to 150 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of an isocyanate compound; (d) 5 to 75 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of a reactive diluent; and (e) a free radical polymerization initiator for the reactive diluent. The composition of the invention is stable at room temperature for extended periods, and cures to form a part which has good high-temperature properties. The epoxy resin component of the composition can be any curable resin having, on the average, more than one vicinal epoxide group per molecule. The epoxy resin can be saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic, and may bear substituents which do not materially interfere with the curing reaction. Suitable epoxy resins include glycidyl ethers prepared by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with a compound containing at least one hydroxyl group carried out under alkaline reaction conditions. The epoxy resin products obtained when the hydroxyl group-containing compound is bisphenol-A are represented below by formula I wherein n is zero or a number greater than 0, commonly in the range of 0 to 10, preferably in the range of 0 to 2. Other suitable epoxy resins can be prepared by the reaction of epichlorohydrin with mononuclear di- and trihydroxy phenolic compounds such as resorcinol and phloroglucinol, selected polynuclear polyhydroxy phenolic compounds such as bis(p-hydroxyphenyl)methane and 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenyl, or aliphatic polyols such as 1,4-butanediol and glycerol. Epoxy resins suitable for the invention compositions have molecular weights generally within the range of 86 to 10,000, preferably from 200 to 1500. The commercially-available epoxy resin EPIKOTE 828 (EPIKOTE is a tradename), a reaction product of epichlorohydrin and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenylpropane (bisphenol-A) having a molecular weight of about 400, an epoxide equivalent (ASTM D-1652) of 185 to 192, and an n value (from formula I above) of 0.2, is presently the preferred epoxy resin because of its low viscosity and commercial availability. The invention composition includes a reactive monomer selected from unsaturated aromatic monomers, esters or amides of ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acids, cyano-containing compounds, vinyl esters, N-vinyl amides and allyl-containing compounds. Examples of unsaturated aromatic monomers include vinyl aromatic monomers such as styrene, alpha-methyl styrene, and p-methyl styrene; halo- and nitro-substituted styrenes such as vinyl toluene, chlorostyrene, bromostyrene, and nitrostyrene; divinylbenzene; t-butylstyrene; 2-vinylpyridine; and vinylnaphthalene. Styrene and mixtures of styrene and divinylbenzene are preferred. Suitable unsaturated monocarboxylic acid esters include the alkyl esters of ethylenically unsaturated acids such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, crotonic acid, alpha-phenylacrylic acid, alpha-cyclohexylacrylic acid, maleic acid, cyanoacrylic acid and methoxyacrylic acid. Very preferred acids are acrylic acid and methacrylic acid. Accordingly suitable esters include methyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, butyl acrylate, butyl methacrylate and isobutyl methacrylate, wherein side chains may contain halogen, e.g., 2,3-dibromopropyl acrylate and pentachlorophenyl methacrylate. Very preferred comonomers include the polyacrylate and polymethacrylate esters of polyols containing more than one terminal acrylate or methacrylate group. These esters are the acrylic and methacrylic acid esters of aliphatic polyhydric alcohols such as, for example, the di- and polyacrylates and the di- and polymethacrylates of alkylene glycols, polyoxyalkylene glycols, alicyclic glycols and higher polyols, such as ethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, tetraethylene glycol, tetramethylene glycol, hexanediol, trimethylolethane, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, dipentaerythritol and tripentaerythritol, or mixtures of these with each other or with their partially esterified analogs. Typical compounds include trimethylolpropane triacrylate, trimethylolethane triacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolethane trimethacrylate, tetramethylene glycol dimethacrylate, ethylene glycol dimethacrylate, triethylene glycol dimethacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, 1,6-hexanediol dimethacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate and dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate. Particularly preferred esters are neopentyl glycol dimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate, trimethylolpropane triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, and 1,3-butylene dimethacrylate. Suitable unsaturated carboxylic acid amides include for example acrylamide, N,N'-dimethylacrylamide, diacetone acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide, and N,N'-dimethylmethacrylamide. Suitable cyano-compounds are for example acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile and halogenated acrylonitriles. Suitable vinyl esters include vinyl acetate, vinyl benzoate and divinyl adipate. Suitable N-vinyl amides include N-vinylpyrrolidone, N-vinyl-N-methylacetamide and N,N'-divinyl-N,N'-dimethyladipamide. Suitable allyl monomers include diallyl phthalate, triallyl isocyanurate, diallyl isophthalate and diethylene glycol bis(allylcarbonate). The described reactive monomers will be blended with the polyepoxide component of the invention composition in an amount within the range of from 5 to 75, preferably of from 10 to 50, weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin. The invention composition preferably contains a free radical initiator for the reactive monomer(s). Examples of such initiators include peroxides, such as benzoyl peroxide, tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, ditertiary butyl peroxide, hydrogen peroxide, potassium peroxydisulfate, bis(methylcyclohexyl)peroxide, cumene hydroperoxide, acetyl benzoyl peroxide, tetralin hydroperoxide, phenylcyclohexane hydroperoxide, tertiary butyl peroxyacetate, dicumyl peroxide and tertiary butyl peroxybenzoate and mixtures thereof; azo compounds such as 2,2'-azobisisobutyronitrile, dimethyl 2,2'-azobisisobutyrate, 2,2'-azobis(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2'-azobisisobutyramide and 2,2'-azobis(2-acetoxypropane). Particularly preferred initiators include the dialkyl peroxides, tertiary alkyl hydroperoxides, and alkyl esters of peroxycarboxylic acids. Especially useful peroxides include tertiary butyl peroxy(2-ethylhexanoate) and 2,5-bis(tertiary butyl peroxy)-2,5-dimethylhexane. The optimum amount of free-radical initiator can vary over a broad range depending on the amount of the particular unsaturated monomer used and the type of curing agent present. In general, a curing amount for the reactive monomer is employed. One skilled in the art would simply adjust the amounts of a particular initiator to suit existing process conditions. The invention composition includes a phenolic curing agent for the epoxy resin. The phenolic curing agent will preferably have a functionality greater than 1.75. The preferred curing agents are phenolic novolacs prepared by reacting a monohydroxy phenol such as phenol or o -cresol, or a dihydroxy phenol such as resorcinol or bisphenol-A with formaldehyde in acid solution. The phenolic novolac curing agent will be present in the composition in an amount effective to cure the epoxy resin, which will generally be a stoichiometric amount of from 0.75 to 1.25 equivalents per equivalent of epoxy resin. In terms of weight percent, the curing agent will be present in an amount generally of from 10 to 70 weight percent, preferably of from 15 to 50, most preferably of from 15 to 40, based on the combined weight of epoxy resin and curing agent. The invention composition includes an isocyanate. Preferred isocyanates can be represented by the formula II R[N=C=O] n in which R is a mono- or multivalent C₁₋₂₀ hydrocarbyl moiety which can be substituted with non-interfering functionalities, such as halide, and may contain heteroatomic bridging moieties such as for example -S-, -0-, CONH, or CO, and n is equal to the valence of R. Examples of suitable isocyanates include 4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, ∝,∝,∝',∝'-tetramethyl-∝,∝'-xylylene diisocyanate, and the oligomeric isocyanates prepared by treating anilineformaldehyde oligomers with an excess of phosgene. The amount of isocyanate compound present will vary depending on the properties desired in the final product, but the composition will generally contain of from 15 to 150, preferably of from 30 to 60, weight percent isocyanate compound, based on the weight of the epoxy resin. Example A series of experiments was performed to evaluate the properties of isocyanate-containing epoxy-based compositions according to the invention. Formulations were prepared by combining a resin component containing a liquid diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (WPE of 185-192 in runs 1 and 2 and WPE of 178-186 in run 3), trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate reactive monomer (TMPTMA), and isocyanate (Isonate 143L, a 4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane modified with carbodiimide linkages to make it liquid at room temperature); with a curing agent component containing CRJ-406 o-cresol novolac from Schenectady Chemicals, styrene, Lupersol 101 peroxide and Fikure 62-U (phenyldimethyl urea). The formulations and tested properties are shown in Table 1.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : BE, DE, FR, GB, IT, NL, SE A composition comprising: (a) an epoxy resin; (b) a phenolic curing agent for the epoxy resin; (c) 15 to 150 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of an isocyanate compound; (d) 5 to 75 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of a reactive diluent; and (e) a free radical polymerization initiator for the reactive diluent. A composition as claimed in claim 1 which the isocyanate compound is represented by the formula II R[N=C=O]n in which R is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁₋₂₀ hydrocarbyl moiety and n is an integer equal to the valence of R. A composition as claimed in claim 2 in which the isocyanate compound is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, ∝,∝,∝',∝'-tetramethyl-∝,∝'-xylylene diisocyanate, and oligomeric isocyanates prepared by treating anilineformaldehyde oligomers with an excess of phosgene. A composition as claimed in claim 3 in which the isocyanate compound is present in the composition in an amount within the range of from 30 to 60 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin. A composition as claimed in any one of the claims 2-4 in which the reactive diluent is selected from the group consisting of styrene, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and mixtures of these. A composition as claimed in any one of the claims 2-5 in which the epoxy resin is a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A. A composition as claimed in any one of the claims 2-6 in which the free radical polymerization initiator is a peroxide compound. Claims for the following Contracting State : ES A process for the preparation of a composition, which process comprises mixing of: (a) an epoxy resin; (b) a phenolic curing agent for the epoxy resin; (c) 15 to 150 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of an isocyanate compound; (d) 5 to 75 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin, of a reactive diluent; and (e) a free radical polymerization initiator for the reactive diluent. A process as claimed in claim 1 which the isocyanate compound is represented by the formula II R-[N=C=O]n in which R is a substituted or unsubstituted C₁₋₂₀ hydrocarbyl moiety and n is an integer equal to the valence of R. A process as claimed in claim 2 in which the isocyanate compound is selected from the group consisting of 4,4'-diisocyanatodiphenylmethane, toluene diisocyanate, hexamethylene diisocyanate, α,α,α',α',-tetramethyl-α,α',-xylylene diisocyanate, and oligomeric isocyanates prepared by treating anilineformaldehyde oligomers with an excess of phosgene. A process as claimed in claim 3 in which the isocyanate compound is present in the composition in an amount within the range of from 30 to 60 weight percent, based on the weight of the epoxy resin. A process as claimed in any one of the claims 2-4 in which the reactive diluent is selected from the group consisting of styrene, trimethylolpropane trimethacrylate and mixtures of these. A process as claimed in any one of the claims 2-5 in which the epoxy resin is a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A. A process as claimed in any one of the claims 2-6 in which the free radical polymerization initiator is a peroxide compound.

Inventors: CORLEY LARRY STEVEN, CORLEY, LARRY STEVEN
Applicants: SHELL INT RESEARCH, SHELL INTERNATIONALE RESEARCH MAATSCHAPPIJ B.V.
Application year: 1991
Main classification: C08F283
IPC codes: C08G18, C08F283