Method of modifying the rate of temperature change of an epoxy resin composition in a resin container during a casting process

Abstract

A method for modifying a rate of temperature change of an epoxy resin composition in a resin container during a resin casting process is proposed. The resin composition has at least one epoxy monomer component and a curing agent. A passivation agent for the curing agent is added to the epoxy resin composition. A resin container arrangement for use in such a resin transfer moulding process, a composite product having an epoxy resin composition, and a use of an organic acid in an epoxy resin casting process as a passivation agent for modifying the rate of temperature change in a resin container containing an epoxy resin composition are proposed.

1 . A mixture comprising:
 an epoxy resin monomer component comprising epoxy monomers;   a curing agent effective to react with the epoxy monomers via an exothermic polymerization reaction; and   a passivation agent effective to modify a rate of temperature change of or inhibit an increase of temperature from the polymerization reaction.   
     
     
         2 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the passivation agent comprises an organic acid. 
     
     
         3 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein the organic acid comprises two or more carboxylic acid groups. 
     
     
         4 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein the organic acid comprises one or more hydrophilic constituents. 
     
     
         5 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein an enthalpy of the dissolution of the organic acid in the mixture is greater than an enthalpy of a reaction between the curing agent and the passivation agent. 
     
     
         6 . The mixture of  claim 2 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid and citric acid. 
     
     
         7 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the curing agent comprises an amine-based curing agent. 
     
     
         8 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the curing agent comprises about 10 to 40 parts per weight and the passivation agent comprises about 2 to 30 parts per mole of the curing agent. 
     
     
         9 . The mixture of  claim 1 , wherein the epoxy resin monomer component is present in an amount of 100 parts per weight. 
     
     
         10 . A resin container arrangement comprising:
 a first vessel comprising a mixture of an epoxy resin monomer component comprising epoxy monomers and a curing agent;   a second vessel comprising an amount of a passivation agent in fluid connection with the first vessel; and   means for adding the passivation agent from the second vessel to the first vessel to modify a rate of temperature change of or inhibit an increase of temperature from a polymerization reaction in the first vessel between the epoxy monomers and the curing agent.   
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the passivation agent comprises an organic acid. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the organic acid comprises two or more carboxylic acid groups. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 11 , wherein the organic acid is selected from the group consisting of malic acid and citric acid. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the curing agent comprises an amine-based curing agent. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the curing agent is present in an amount of about 10 to 40 parts per weight and the passivation agent is in an amount of about 2 to 30 parts per mole of the curing agent. 
     
     
         16 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the epoxy resin monomer component is present in an amount of 100 parts per weight. 
     
     
         17 . A composite product, comprising:
 a polymerized epoxy resin comprising a reaction product of an organic acid and an amine-based curing agent, wherein the reaction product comprises a salt of the organic acid and the amine-based curing agent, an amide product between the organic acid and the amine-based curing agent, or a mixture thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The composite product of  claim 17 , wherein the composite product comprises a wind turbine blade. 
     
     
         19 . The arrangement of  claim 10 , wherein the organic acid comprises two or more carboxylic acid groups.