PARTNER INSTITUTION: Université du Québec à Montréal
BACKGROUND
Epoxy is a widely used material due to its excellent adhesion, chemical and heat resistance, tunable mechanical properties, and very good electrical insulating properties. It is employed in various applications such as paints, coatings, sealants, adhesives, industrial tooling and composites, electrical systems and electronics, etc. The total epoxy industry amounts to more than US $15 billion worldwide.
Besides being one of the main building blocks of polycarbonates, Bisphenol A intervenes in the preparation of numerous epoxy resins, via its derivative, bisphenol A diglycidyl ether (BADGE). It is estimated that BADGE and other bisphenol derivatives enters in the composition of approximately 80% of epoxy resins. Evidence is also accumulating that BPA is leaching out from these resins, once they are exposed to humid aerobic environments for prolonged periods (such as in landfills, for example), probably via bacterial hydrolysis of the glycidyl ether linkage.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has found BPA in the urine of 93% of surveyed Americans over the age of 6. A 2011 study that investigated the number of chemicals pregnant women are exposed to in the U.S. found BPA in 96% of women.
TECHNOLOGY
An entirely novel method for producing epoxy thermoset resins which are free of bisphenol, with excellent heat resistance and mechanical properties.
COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGES
- Epoxy monomers based on abundant and economically viable raw materials.
- Easily tunable EEW – from 140 g/eq and above.
- Wide range of hardeners possible.
- High chemical, heat, and UV stability.
- Extremely high transition temperature (Tg above 300°C).
- Devoid of BPA and relatives of the BPA family.
- Chloride free.
- Epoxy monomers prepared by green chemistry methods (no phosgene, no phenol, no Proposition 65 chemicals).
- High Young modulus (as high as 4 GPa at 50°C or 1.5 GPa at 150°C).
- Low swelling in water and organic solvents.
APPLICATIONS
Several potential applications exist in the fields of coatings, adhesives, and composites. Better mechanical and thermal properties make this technology potentially attractive for the automotive or aeronautical industries.
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENTAL STAGE
Several coatings were made (1” X 2” X 0.3”) and tested.
PATENT STATUS
Pending.
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY
For licensing the invention.
Keywords: Thermoset, epoxy, polymer, bisphenol, BPA