Characteristics and Applications of Epoxy Resins

From a scientific standpoint, epoxy resin is defined as "a type of monomer or oligomer material that can further react to form thermosetting polymers, which have high chemical and solvent resistance, excellent adhesion to various substrates, low shrinkage upon curing, impact resistance, flexibility, and good electrical properties." When selecting epoxy resin, customizing resin, modifying agents, and cross-linking agents can create specific properties for specific applications which makes epoxy resin available for various uses.

Epoxy resin characteristics

As an epoxy resin factory, our epoxy resin is known for its high performance. Epoxy resin is defined as an essential component of adhesives, coatings, reinforced plastics, and composite materials (such as fiberglass and carbon fiber) that remain intact under extreme conditions. When properly cured, epoxy resin can provide many ideal properties, including chemical resistance, especially in alkaline environments; heat resistance; adhesion to various substrates; high tensile, compressive, and flexural strength; low shrinkage upon curing; high electrical insulation and retention performance; corrosion resistance; curing over a wide temperature range; and fatigue resistance.

Learn about the uses of epoxy resin

Generally, when using the terms "structural adhesive" or "engineering adhesive," they are referring to epoxy resin. Epoxy resin adheres to wood, concrete, metal, glass, stone, and most plastics, making them incredibly versatile. Only a few of the many useful epoxy resin applications include:

• Structural: laminated wood, walls, roofs, floors, etc.

• Paints and coatings: outdoor paints, sealers, heavy protective coatings, industrial and automotive paints, primers, and sealers.

• Industrial and composite materials: epoxy resin is used in molds, prototypes, laminates, castings, fixturing, and other industrial production auxiliary materials, as well as carbon fiber-reinforced and composite material components.

• Turbine technology: wind turbine blades.

• Electrical systems and electronic products: epoxy resin is used in motors, generators, transformers, gear switches, bushings, insulators, printed wiring boards (PWBs), encapsulants, and semiconductor sealants.

• Consumer and marine: Epoxy resin can be picked up in packaging form at most hardware and marine stores for easy mixing of resin and curing agents before use. These kits can be used in many home and boating repair applications.

• Aerospace: In addition to others, in the aerospace industry, epoxy resin is used for structural adhesives reinforced with glass, Kevlar fiber, boron, or carbon fiber. Because of the high mechanical performance and resistance to environmental degradation of epoxy resin, this option is particularly used in the aerospace industry.

• Art: Epoxy resin can be mixed with pigments for painting, used for making jewelry, or for cutting paper art applications in artwork, tables, and countertops.