Excellent adhesion, especially to metal, wood and other polar substrates. Good flow properties permit processing at low pressure and consequent extension of mould life. Limitations are that many grades have a short shelf life, therefore cool storage is necessary. Exceptionally suited for encapsulation purposes because of low viscosity, good adhesion. Some grades have a low level of impurity and a high glass transition temperature.
Limitations are of high cost, in particular of speciality grades.
Available as rigid castings, moldings and laminates. The rigid structure may however result in brittleness. Epoxies are also available in liquid and powder form for surface coatings and in the liquid form as adhesives. Epoxies can be processed by all the methods normally used by thermosets. Epoxy RIM and RRIM systems have potential applications as automotive radiator supports, transmission supports and other structural components.