Aspects of Latency in Epoxy Film Adhesives

Abstract

Abstract Studies have shown that the cure of epoxy resins with urea hardeners, either alone or in conjunction with dicyandiamide, is influenced by the ability of adventitious agents, products, or by-products to volatilise from the reacting system. Although a generalised mechanism has not been identified, the phenomenological findings are important in evaluation and characterisation of adhesives and cure schedules, particularly by thermal analysis, and need to be considered in any detailed chemical study of these systems. Propenal has been identified as a significant by-product of cure under certain conditions.