The document compares different diluents for use with epoxy resins to improve properties like viscosity, glass transition temperature, mechanical strength, and water absorption. It tests various aliphatic and aromatic diluents, reporting their epoxy equivalent weight, viscosity, efficiency when added to an epoxy resin, gel time and pot life, glass transition temperature before and after curing, water absorption, shear strength, tensile strength, elongation, compressive strength, impact strength, and electrical properties. It concludes that 1,4-butane-diol diglycidyl ether is the best aliphatic diluent overall based on its good efficiency, moderately high glass transition temperature of 134属C after curing
2. 1. Diluents Selected
Aliphatic difunctional diluents
Neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether (RoyOxy RAD 968)
1,4-butane-diol diglycidyl ether (RoyOxy RAD 77)
1,6-hexane-diol diglycidyl ether (RoyOxy RAD 968)
Aliphatic trifunctional diluent
Trimethylol propane triglycidyl ether (RoyOxy RAD 948)
Aromatic difunctional diluent
Resorcinol diglycidyl ether (RoyOxy RAD 981)
3. 2. Viscosity & Epoxy Equivalent Weight of Diluents used
Diluent EEW Viscosity at 25oC
RoyOxy RAD 968 137 14
RoyOxy RAD 77 110 13
RoyOxy RAD 986 124 16
RoyOxy RAD 948 128 230
RoyOxy RAD 981 113 165
4. 3. Efficiency of Diluents
(phr of diluent added to RoyOxy RAR 928 epoxy resin to obtain a viscosity of 2000 cP)
NPGDGE 19.8
BDGE 18.5
HDGE 14.3
TMPTGE 42.9
RDGE 50
6. 5. Gel Time and Pot-life in minutes
Gel Time at 80oC Pot Life at 25oC
Diluent RAC 9923 RAC 9924 RAC 9923 RAC 9924
NPGDGE 48 11 178 39
BDGE 43 9 127 33
HDGE 43 8 113 27
TMPTGE 29 8 110 29
RDGE 22 6 76 22
B-11 31 9 156 37
7. 6. Tg before and after post-curing
Tg before post curing Tg after post curing
RAC 9923 RAC 9924 RAC 9923 RAC 9924
NPGDGE 97 108 120.5 122
BDGE 100.5 107.5 118 134
HDGE 113.2 118.6 121.2 124.8
TMPTGE 105.5 111.8 132 135.9
RDGE 106.7 121.2 132.3 138
B-11 121.3 131.3 134.1 141.4
Tg after Gel time +24 hrs at
RT, (属C)
Tg after Gel time +24 hrs at
RT+100属C/3h +140属C/2h
(属C)
8. 7. Water Absorption
Diluent RAC 9923 RAC 9924 RAC 9923 RAC 9924
NPGDGE 0.1 0.09 0.46 0.42
BDGE 0.13 0.06 0.5 0.37
HDGE 0.1 0.07 0.32 0.33
TMPTGE 0.13 0.08 0.52 0.37
RDGE 0.08 0.04 0.3 0.2
RAR 928 0.1 0.06 0.05 0.03
Water absorption after 24 hrs
at RT % w/w
Water absorption after
100属c /2h % w/w
14. 13. Electrical Properties of RAR 928 / RAD 77 / RAC 9924
Dielectric constant at 50 Hz 3.05
Dissipation Factor (tan delta) at 50 Hz 0.005
Dielectric strength 18 kV/mm
15. 14. Conclusions
Resorcinol Diglycidyl Ether gives the highest Tg but very poor dilution
efficiency. Because of health hazards, it is ruled out.
Trimethylol propane triglycidyl ether gives next best Tg. Good
mechanical properties as well. If high dilution ratio (~40 phr diluent) is
acceptable, it can be recommended.
1,4-butane-diol diglycidyl ether is the best difunctional aliphatic diluent
with good efficiency, moderately high Tg (134oC) and best overall
mechanical properties. Hence it is ideal for filament winding,
pultrusion, casting and encapsulation.