Talk Composites - The Forum for Advanced Composites

Usage of different epoxy resins in one composite

http://www.talkcomposites.com/Topic12246.aspx

By Frenkv - 7/15/2014 9:01:55 AM

Hello,

I have some questions about the usage of different resins within one composite.

Has anyone tried this before? 

Do different epoxies collaborate without losing their properties in the transition area?

Are there companies that are already familiar with this way of working?

Thanks in advance!

Greetings,

Frenk 
By FLD - 7/15/2014 2:30:02 PM

I've mulled this one over and here are my random thoughts.....

Most epoxies are a product of epichlorohydrin and a bisphenol to generate a polymer chain of a certain molecular weight.  The chain length is related to viscosity so I dont see why different resins wouldn't be compatible.  The hardener is a polyamine or polysulphide used to cross-link the chains.  Both are simple nucleophilic reactants so should react with any chain thats around.  I suspect that if properly mixed you'd end up with a resin with properties that are inbetween those of the starting resins.  If they aren't mixed then I'd choose the lesser properties as the benchmark as there will be areas of this in the laminate.  Not really a game stopper.

Obviously thsi is just my ramblings so I stand to be corrected.