Thermosetting Resin Containing Irradiated Thermoplastic Toughening Agent
AssigneeHexcel Composites Limited
InventorsJohn L. Cawse, Stephen Mortimer, Chrisopher J. Wade
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Abstract
Thermosetting resins are provided that are toughened with an irradiated thermoplastic toughening agent and which have reduced levels of solvent-induced micro crack formation. The thermoplastic toughening agent is treated with a sufficient amount of high-energy radiation (e.g. electron beam or gamma rays) to cause a reduction in solvent-induced micro crack formation in the cured resin when compared to the same toughened thermosetting resin in which the non-irradiated version of the thermoplastic toughening agent is used.
Claims20
An uncured resin composition comprising a thermosetting resin component, an irradiated thermoplastic toughening agent and a curing agent.
A method for making an uncured resin composition comprising the step of mixing a thermosetting resin component with an irradiated thermoplastic toughening agent and a curing agent.
In a method for making a toughened thermosetting resin composition wherein a thermoplastic toughening agent is added to a thermosetting resin component, the improvement comprising increasing the solvent resistance of said toughened thermosetting resin compositions by irradiating said thermoplastic toughening agent with high energy radiation prior to addition of said thermoplastic toughening agent to said thermosetting resin.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.