Elevated Temperature Epoxy

[MotoMike]

Hello Everyone,

I am looking for a room temperature curing epoxy that will not degrade in the 160 to 220 deg F temperature range. Something in a colorless epoxy with a viscosity less than 700 for RTM. I have been using several of the 2:1 epoxies and they have been working well for other projects, but I now have a project that the part may be exposed to direct sun and reach temps above 160 F. My initial tests showed that the 2:1 gets soft and also shows fabric break through. I have tried post cure at 140 F and adding UV safe clear coat, but the test parts still degrade. Are vinyl esters or polyester resins the only solution? Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Mike

 

[KirbyWan]

Check out Hysol's selector guide for the aerospace industry here:

http://www.henkel.com/SID-54DB71D9-...rentredDotUID=0000000H0K&redDotUID=00000002KJ

EA9396 is good to 350° with good properties. I'm not sure what the viscosity is, but it calls it low viscosity.

-Kirby

Kirby Wilkerson

Remember, first define the problem, then solve it.

 

[GregoireMC]

There are also the Cyanate ester resins that can withstand high temp. (I don't know their UV sensibiltity)
TenCate is supplying a lot of different grades of resins.
They have also a selector guide (see link).

http://www.tencate.com/TenCate/Aero...t/TCAC_AerospaceSelectGuide_V3_web_070810.pdf

 

[Sparweb]

Kirby's suggested EA9396 is fairly thin (a bit thinner than honey if I recall correctly). For high temps I like the Hysol pastes instead. EA934.NA may be expensive, but the performance is excellent even when it's hot. Did some pull-tests straight out of an oven and it emerged the winner.

I also tried a Loctite H8000 which resisted heat very well. It's "methactrylate", and when mixed 10:1 it has a consistency like toothphaste. Applying it is tricky but once cured the bond was good.

Steven Fahey, CET

 

[Corrosiondoc]

Any resin will degrade when exposed to UV. Gel coat will help as will UV inhibitor. Vinyl ester can handle temp to 300F and 350 cps.

Epicure 3218 is a pretty good room temp curing agent used with Bis A epoxy. Believe with heloxy modifiers can reduce the viscosity where you want it.

 

[MotoMike]

Thank you to each of you for your suggestions. I was hoping to not have to work with a polyester or vinyl ester due to the color, the styrene smell, and the mekp catalyst. I am doing infusion so viscosity is a concern. I have been searching for a solution for about 6 months. This week I was able to reach
technical reps from huntsman and cook. They have both suggested examples to try. I should have results in about 3 weeks that I will post.

Mike