EN 
RU 
AR 
ES 
PT Brief History of Epoxy Resin Development
- In 1936, Swiss scientist P. Castan first synthesized epoxy resin.
- In 1942, Dr. S.O. Greenlee in the United States at Devoe & Reynolds Company [USA] first discovered the use of Shell’s epichlorohydrin to prepare epoxy resin.
- In 1943, Swiss scientist P. Castan published the first epoxy resin patent, which was licensed to Ciba.
- In 1945, Ciba published the first patent on the application of epoxy resin in adhesives and casting materials.
- In the 1950s, Ciba, Shell, and Dow commercially developed a series of different grades of epoxy resins.
- By 2015, the consumption of epoxy resin in mainland China had reached 1.5 million tons, widely used in various industrial fields:
- Marine and Maintenance Coatings
- Industrial Protection Coatings
- Adhesives
- Civil Engineering
- Composites
- Electronic Materials
- Auto Coatings
Classification of Epoxy Resin
Common types of epoxy resin include Bisphenol A, Bisphenol F, and Phenolic Epoxy. Bisphenol A type accounts for 80-85% of the total epoxy resin consumption, offering good versatility and cost-effectiveness, though it typically has a higher viscosity.
Characteristics of Various Epoxy Resins
- Phenolic Epoxy: Exhibits excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, but is often available in semi-solid or solid forms and is usually more expensive. When using phenolic epoxy resin, it’s important to carefully select the curing agent because phenolic epoxy cannot achieve a high degree of cure at room temperature. Therefore, a curing agent that allows phenolic epoxy to cure at room temperature should be chosen. If not fully cured, its performance may be inferior to that of Bisphenol A type.
- Bisphenol F Type: Features very low viscosity, good electrical insulation properties, and much better acid resistance compared to Bisphenol A type. However, it has a slower reaction rate, poor compatibility with some curing agents, and is slightly more expensive.
- Bisphenol A Type: This is the most widely used epoxy resin, accounting for 80-85% of total epoxy resin consumption. Bisphenol A epoxy resins are known for their excellent mechanical properties, adhesion, and versatility, making them suitable for a broad range of applications, including coatings, adhesives, and composites. They offer a good balance of cost-effectiveness and performance. However, Bisphenol A resins typically have higher viscosity, which can pose challenges in processing and may require dilution or the use of specific curing agents to improve flowability. Despite this, they remain the go-to choice in many industrial applications due to their well-rounded properties and availability. Commonly used epoxy resins on the market include E20, E51, etc. Usually, solvent-based E44 is used for coatings, E20 is more commonly used for anti-corrosion, and E51 is mostly used for high-solid or solvent-free anti-corrosion or adhesives. No matter which one is used, it is necessary to select the right curing agent.
Epoxy Resin Dilution
Common active diluents include AGE, phenyl glycidyl ether, benzyl glycidyl ether, and butyl glycidyl ether.
- Butyl Glycidyl Ether (501, BGE) offers the best dilution effect but is highly irritating, so its direct use in formulations is not recommended.
- Phenyl Glycidyl Ether (690) should also be avoided (carcinogenic). If high chemical resistance is required, ortho-cresol glycidyl ether can be used.
In the domestic market, benzyl alcohol and AGE are primarily used as viscosity reducers in the resin component. Benzyl alcohol is generally safe to use in most situations but may be restricted in certain regions or applications because it is non-reactive and may migrate and release during use.
