Curable episulfide systems having enhanced adhesion to metal

Abstract

A metal-polymer composite comprises a metal and substrate layer disposed on the metal, wherein the substrate layer is formed from a curable thermosetting resin system comprising a curing agent and about 0.1 to 100 weight percent (wt %), preferably about 0.2 to about 80 wt %, more preferably about 0.4 to about 60 wt %, and most preferably about 2 to about 40 wt % of an episulfide, and further wherein the resin system is cured in the presence of the metal. In another embodiment, the thermosetting system comprises about 0.1 to about 50 wt %, preferably about 1 to about 40 wt % and more preferably about 2 to about 30 wt % of at least one episulfide resin, at least one epoxy resin reactive therewith, and a curing agent, wherein the resin system is cured in the presence of a metal, such as a layer of copper or gold. A preferred epoxy resin is the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, which is the condensation product of bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin (hereinafter abbreviated “DGEBA”). A preferred episulfide resin is the episulfide analog of the preferred epoxy resin. The two aforementioned thermosetting resin systems find particular utility as protective coatings and adhesives for metals, as well as cured compositions, preferably laminated to metals, to form, for example circuit boards.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.