Fast-curing epoxy systems

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 11286335
  • Patent Number
    11,286,335
  • Date Filed
    Friday, May 10, 2019
    5 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, March 29, 2022
    2 years ago
Abstract
The present invention provides a composition comprising
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a 35 U.S.C. § 119 patent application which claims the benefit of European Application No. 18172951.8 filed May 17, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.


FIELD

The present invention provides compositions comprising at least one epoxy resin, at least one cyclic amine and a salt of a very strong Brønsted acid.


BACKGROUND

Epoxy resins, especially those that are prepared from bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin, are known raw materials for the production of high-quality casting resins, coating compositions, composites and adhesives. Aromatic epoxy resins cured with polyamines have not only good chemical and solvent resistance but also good bond strength on many substrates.


The curing of epoxy-amine coating systems can be accelerated using catalysts (U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,492,269 A, 5,470,896 A, GB 1,105,772 A).


EP 0 083 813 A1, EP 2 957 584 A1, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,441,000 A, 5,629,380 A, WO 96/09352 A1 disclose the catalysed curing of epoxy resins with various amines.


Cyclic amines show advantages in epoxy curing. U.S. Pat. No. 8,951,619 B2 and U.S. Pat. No. 9,006,385 B2 disclose, inter alia, the catalyst-free curing of epoxy resins with N-substituted piperazines.


CN 106905816 A, CN 106833261 A, JP H08-113876 A, DE 1 954 701 A1, CA 2 165 585 A1 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,055,901 A disclose the catalyst-free curing of epoxy resins with aminoethylpiperazine.


U.S. Pat. No. 8,980,979 B2 discloses the curing of an epoxy resin with, inter alia, a cyclic diamine selected from piperazine and homopiperazine, optionally in the presence of a catalyst.


EP 0 969 030 A1 discloses epoxy/amine coating systems wherein the amine component is an aliphatic amine. The compositions may include a catalyst. In the examples, the hardener used is aminoethylpiperazine.


U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,734 A discloses the curing of epoxy resins with aminoethylpiperazine using catalytic amounts of tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate salts of various amines. Also disclosed in comparative examples (Example 2) is an attempt to cure epoxy resins with aminoethylpiperazine in the presence of lithium tetrafluoroborate. However, there is no reaction at the ratio of epoxy groups:NH groups used. In addition, in a comparative example (in Example 9), epoxy resin is cured with aminoethylpiperazine in the presence of imidazoline. However, the imidazoline used has the disadvantage that it is not storage-stable in the presence of moist materials and has a tendency to yellow.


EP 3 255 078 A1 discloses epoxy resin compositions comprising at least one epoxy compound, 2-(2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidin-4-yl)propane-1,3-diamine, and optionally a catalyst which may be an inorganic salt inter alia.


WO 2017/074810 A1 discloses compositions comprising an epoxy resin, a polyetheramine and a further amine hardener which may be an imidazole or imidazoline inter alia, and a metal triflate catalyst.


A common factor in the prior art compositions is that they cure too slowly or only at high temperatures.


For many applications, however, it is important that surface curing or complete through-curing proceeds particularly rapidly or else at low temperatures. Firstly, productivity can be increased or else the next processing step can be accelerated. The latter is important particularly in cold regions in order, for example, to provide ships or pipelines with a corrosion protection coating, such that continued operation is possible there in winter as well.


SUMMARY

The problem addressed in the present context is thus that of providing epoxy systems that react much more quickly under the same conditions than the formulations known to date. Another problem addressed was that of providing epoxy formulations that partly or fully cure more quickly than is possible to date at temperatures well below room temperature.







DETAILED DESCRIPTION

These present problems are solved by the compositions according to the invention comprising

  • a) at least one epoxy resin,
  • b) at least one cyclic amine of the formula (I)




embedded image


  • in which
    • R1 to R4 is H or an organic radical and

      X═—(Y1)m-(A1)n-(Y2)o-(A2)p-(Y3)q-(A3)r-(Y4)s—,  (II)

  • where, independently of one another,
    • m, n, o, p, q, r and s=0 or 1,
    • A1, A2, A3=alkylene or alkenylene radical and
    • Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4═NR5, PR5, O or S, with R5 independently=organic radical,
    • where any two organic radicals selected from R1 to R5 and any radicals present in the alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals A1, A2, A3 may also form one or more further rings,
    • with the proviso that at least one of the radicals selected from R1 to R5 present and any radicals present in the alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals A1, A2, A3 is substituted by at least one —NHR6 or —NH2 group, where R6=organic radical, and

  • c) at least one salt of a very strong Brønsted acid with a counterion selected from metal ions, metal-containing ions, phosphonium ions and unsubstituted ammonium ions.



Preferably, the ratio of the epoxy groups in the epoxy resin to the sum total of all NH groups in all amines is 0.5:1 to 1.5:1, preferably 0.8:1 to 1.2:1, most preferably 0.9:1 to 1.1:1. “All amines” are understood here to mean cyclic amines of the formula (I) and amines d) not covered by formula (I) that are described hereinafter. A corresponding reaction has the advantage that this increases the crosslinking density and the molar mass, and hence improves mechanical properties, chemical stability and scratch resistance. Moreover, no unreacted constituents remain in the coating, which can either enter into unwanted side reactions, migrate out of the coating or else at least lower heat distortion resistance as plasticizer.


Component a) is at least one epoxy resin. All epoxy compounds are suitable in principle for this purpose.


Suitable epoxy compounds are described, for example, in EP 675 185 A2. Useful compounds are a multitude of the known compounds containing more than one epoxy group, preferably two epoxy groups, per molecule. These epoxy compounds may be either saturated or unsaturated and aliphatic, cycloaliphatic, aromatic or heterocyclic and may also have hydroxyl groups. They may additionally contain such substituents that do not cause any troublesome side reactions under the mixing or reaction conditions, for example alkyl or aryl substituents or ether moieties.


Preferred epoxy compounds here are glycidyl ethers which derive from polyhydric phenols, especially bisphenols and novolaks, and which have molar masses based on the number of epoxy groups ME (“epoxy equivalent weights”, “EV value”) between 100 and 1500 g/eq, but especially between 150 and 250 g/eq.


Particularly preferred epoxy compounds derive from resorcinol, hydroquinone, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)propane (bisphenol A), isomer mixtures of dihydroxydiphenylmethane (bisphenol F), 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenylcyclohexane, 4,4′-dihydroxy-3,3′-dimethyldiphenylpropane, 4,4′-dihydroxydiphenyl, 4,4′-dihydroxybenzophenone, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1-ethane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)-1,1-isobutane, 2,2-bis(4-hydroxy-tert-butylphenyl)propane, bis(2-hydroxynaphthyl)methane, 1,5-dihydroxynaphthalene, tris(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) ether, bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) sulfone, and the chlorination and bromination products of the aforementioned compounds (for example tetrabromobisphenol A).


Very particular preference is given to using liquid diglycidyl ethers based on bisphenol A and bisphenol F having an epoxy equivalent weight of 150 to 200 g/eq.


It is also possible with preference to use polyglycidyl ethers of polyalcohols, for example ethane-1,2-diol diglycidyl ether, propane-1,2-diol diglycidyl ether, propane-1,3-diol diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl ether, pentanediol diglycidyl ether (including neopentyl glycol diglycidyl ether), hexanediol diglycidyl ether, diethylene glycol diglycidyl ether, dipropylene glycol diglycidyl ether, higher polyoxyalkylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, for example higher polyoxyethylene glycol diglycidyl ethers and polyoxypropylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, co-polyoxyethylene-propylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, polyoxytetramethylene glycol diglycidyl ethers, polyglycidyl ethers of glycerol, of hexane-1,2,6-triol, of trimethylolpropane, of trimethylolethane, of pentaerythritol or of sorbitol, polyglycidyl ethers of oxyalkylated polyols (for example of glycerol, trimethylolpropane, pentaerythritol, inter alia), diglycidyl ethers of cyclohexanedimethanol, of bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)methane and of 2,2-bis(4-hydroxycyclohexyl)propane, polyglycidyl ethers of castor oil, triglycidyl tris(2-hydroxyethyl)isocyanurate.


Further useful components A preferably include: poly(N-glycidyl) compounds obtainable by dehydrohalogenation of the reaction products of epichlorohydrin and amines such as aniline, n-butylamine, bis(4-aminophenyl)methane, m-xylylenediamine or bis(4-methylaminophenyl)methane. However, the poly(N-glycidyl) compounds also include triglycidyl isocyanurate, triglycidylurazole and oligomers thereof, N,N′-diglycidyl derivatives of cycloalkyleneureas and diglycidyl derivatives of hydantoins.


In addition, it is also possible with preference to use polyglycidyl esters of polycarboxylic acids which are obtained by the reaction of epichlorohydrin or similar epoxy compounds with an aliphatic, cycloaliphatic or aromatic polycarboxylic acid such as oxalic acid, succinic acid, adipic acid, glutaric acid, phthalic acid, terephthalic acid, tetrahydrophthalic acid, hexahydrophthalic acid, naphthalene-2,6-dicarboxylic acid and higher diglycidyl dicarboxylates, for example dimerized or trimerized linolenic acid. Examples are diglycidyl adipate, diglycidyl phthalate and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate.


Also preferred are glycidyl esters of unsaturated carboxylic acids and epoxidized esters of unsaturated alcohols or unsaturated carboxylic acids. In addition to the polyglycidyl ethers, it is possible to use small amounts of monoepoxides, for example methyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, allyl glycidyl ether, ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, long-chain aliphatic glycidyl ethers, for example cetyl glycidyl ether and stearyl glycidyl ether, monoglycidyl ethers of a higher isomeric alcohol mixture, glycidyl ethers of a mixture of C12 to C13 alcohols, phenyl glycidyl ether, cresyl glycidyl ether, p-tert-butylphenyl glycidyl ether, p-octylphenyl glycidyl ether, p-phenylphenyl glycidyl ether, glycidyl ethers of an alkoxylated lauryl alcohol, and also monoepoxides such as epoxidized monounsaturated hydrocarbons (butylene oxide, cyclohexene oxide, styrene oxide), in proportions by mass of up to 30% by weight, preferably 10% to 20% by weight, based on the mass of the polyglycidyl ethers.


A detailed enumeration of the suitable epoxy compounds can be found in the handbook “Epoxidverbindungen and Epoxidharze” [Epoxy Compounds and Epoxy Resins] by A. M. Paquin, Springer Verlag, Berlin 1958, Chapter IV, and in Lee Neville “Handbook of Epoxy Resins”, 1967, Chapter 2.


Useful epoxy compounds preferably include glycidyl ethers and glycidyl esters, aliphatic epoxides, diglycidyl ethers based on bisphenol A and/or bisphenol F, and glycidyl methacrylates. Other examples of such epoxides are triglycidyl isocyanurate (TGIC, trade name: ARALDIT 810, Huntsman), mixtures of diglycidyl terephthalate and triglycidyl trimellitate (trade name: ARALDIT PT 910 and 912, Huntsman), glycidyl esters of Versatic acid (trade name: CARDURA E10, Shell), 3,4-epoxycyclohexylmethyl 3′,4′-epoxycyclohexanecarboxylate (ECC), ethylhexyl glycidyl ether, butyl glycidyl ether, pentaerythrityl tetraglycidyl ether (trade name: POLYPDX R 16, UPPC AG), and other Polypox products having free epoxy groups. It is also possible to use mixtures of the epoxy compounds mentioned.


Particularly preferred epoxy resins are polyepoxides based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, 4,4′-methylenebis[N,N-bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)aniline], hexanediol diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether, propane-1,2,3-triol triglycidyl ether, pentaerythritol tetraglycidyl ether and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate.


Preference is given to using mixtures of the aforementioned epoxy compounds as component A).


Useful cyclic amines b) in principle include any compounds which, as NH carrier, have exactly one cyclic, i.e. ring-attached, NH group and at least one non-ring-attached primary or secondary amino group. In addition, however, the amines used in accordance with the invention may also have tertiary amino groups that are unreactive.


The amines b) have the formula (I)




embedded image


  • in which
    • R1 to R4 is H or an organic radical and

      X═—(Y1)m-(A1)n-(Y2)o-(A2)p-(Y3)q-(A3)r-(Y4)s—,  (II)
    • where, independently of one another,
      • m, n, o, p, q, r and s=0 or 1,
      • A1, A2, A3=alkylene or alkenylene radical and
      • Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4═NR5, PR5, O or S, where R5=organic radical,
      • where any two organic radicals selected from R1 to R5 and any radicals present in the
      • alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals A1, A2, A3 may also form one or more further rings, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals selected from R1 to R5 present and any radicals present in the alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals A1, A2, A3 is substituted by at least one —NHR6 or —NH2 group, where R6=organic radical.



The cyclic amines are saturated or partly unsaturated in relation to the ring shown in formula (I). Corresponding amines react more quickly than corresponding aromatic amines and imidazolines. Further rings optionally present in the cyclic amine may be not only saturated or unsaturated, but also aromatic.


Preferred cyclic amines are saturated in relation to the ring shown in formula (I).


Preferably, at least one of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 radicals=H. In that case, the carbon atoms adjacent to the ring-attached amino group, since at least one of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 radicals=H, are unsubstituted at at least one site overall. Corresponding amines react more quickly than amines in which all four R1, R2, R3 and R4 radicals≠H. Further preferably at least two, even further preferably at least three and more preferably all of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 radicals=H.


In the X radical, if present, A1, A2 and A3 are independently alkylene or alkenylene radicals. These may in turn bear organic radicals. If the alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals themselves have one or more organic radicals, any two organic radicals are selected from the organic radicals in the alkylene and/or alkenylene radicals may also form one or more further rings with one another or with any organic R1 to R5 radicals present.


Preferably, A1, A2 and A3, if present, each independently have the formula (III))

—(CR7R8)x—(CR9═CR10)y—(CR11R12)z—  (III)


in which, independently of one another,

    • R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12=H or organic radical and
    • 1≤x+y+z≤7.


The indices x, y and z, in accordance with their pertinence to the A1, A2 and A3 radical, may preferably also be referred to as indices x1, y1 and z1, as x2, y2 and z2 and as x3, y3 and z3.


Preferably, X has a chain length of 2 to 15 atoms. Preferably, the sum total of all x, ½·y and z and of m, o, q and s has a value from 2 to 15, further preferably a value from 2 to 8, even further preferably a value from 2 to 5 and most preferably a value from 2 to 4. In other words, preferably, 2≤m+o+q+s+x1+1/2·y1+z1+x2+½·y2+z2+x3+1/2·y3+z3≤15. Further preferably 2≤m+o+q+s+x1+1/2·y1+z1+x2+½·y2+z2+x3+1/2·y3+z3≤8, further preferably 2≤m+o+q+s+x1+1/2·y1+z1+x2+½·y2+z2+x3+1/2·y3+z3≤5, most preferably 2≤m+o+q+s+x1+1/2·y1+z1+x2+½·y2+z2+x3+1/2·y3+z3≤4.


The amines of the formula (I) are (optionally bi/poly)cyclic compounds since both carbon atoms adjacent to the amino group are attached on either side to the substituted (hetero)alkylene radical of the formula (II).


Further preferably, formula (I), as well as the nitrogen atom of the ring-attached NH group, has not more than one further heteroatom in the cycle, i.e. X preferably has the formula (Ha)

X═—(CR7R8)x—(Y)o—(CR11R12)z—  (IIa)


with

    • x and z=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,
    • o=0 or 1,
    • 2≤x+o+z≤15
    • R7, R8, R11, R12═H or organic radical and
    • Y═NR5, PR5, O or S, where R5=organic radical.


Correspondingly, in formula (I), any two organic radicals selected from R1 to R8, R11 and R12 may also form one or more further rings, with the proviso that at least one of the radicals selected from R1 to R8, R11 and R12 present is substituted by at least one —NHR6 or —NH2 group, where R6=organic radical.


In the preferred case that x=2-4 and 0 and z=0, the resulting compounds are saturated heteroalkyl ring systems having one NH group. Preferred compounds are pyrrolidines, piperidines and azepanes. In the preferred case that x=1-3, o=1 and z=0-2, the compounds are saturated heteroalkyl ring systems having one NH group and a further heteroatom in the cycle that is not part of a further cyclic NH group. Preferred compounds are singly N-substituted pyrazolidines, singly N-substituted imidazolidines, oxazolidines, thiazolidines, singly N-substituted piperazines, morpholines, thiomorpholines, singly N-substituted diazepanes, oxazepanes and thiazepanes. It is thus preferable, in formula (IIa), that x=1-4, o=0 or 1 and z=0-2.


However, it is also possible to use compounds having three heteroatoms in the cycle. Preference is given especially to the group of the triazinanes and the triazepanes. Especially these compounds may be in bridged form, as, for example, in the case of a particularly preferred group of compounds of the 1,3,6-triazabicyclo[4.2.1]nonanes.


The R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, R8, R9, R10, R11 and R12 radicals may be organic radicals. Preferred organic radicals are alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or aralkyl radicals. These may be heteroatom-substituted within their chain and/or their substituents. Preferred organic radicals are alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or aralkyl radicals which may bear one or more ether, carboxyl, amino, amido, urea, carbamate, carbonate, amidino or guanidino groups within the chain. In addition, preferred organic radicals may bear one or more substituents selected from organic radicals optionally having ether, carboxyl, amino, amido, urea, carbamate, carbonate, amidino or guanidino groups that may optionally also be substituted by hydroxyl, nitrile or halogen radicals or may themselves be hydroxyl, nitrile or halogen radicals.


Preferred compounds of the formula (I) are aminoethylpiperazine (AEP, 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine), 1-(3-aminopropyl)piperazine, 1-imidazolidinoethanamine, imidazolidino-N-propanamine, α-methyl-1-piperazinethanamine, 2,6-dimethyl-1-piperazinoethanamine, 2-amino-1-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanone, 4-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine, 3-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine and 2-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine.


The compounds of the formula (I) may also be used in a mixture.


The compositions according to the invention further comprise at least one salt of a very strong Brønsted acid with a counterion selected from metal ions, metal-containing ions, phosphonium ions and unsubstituted ammonium ions. Corresponding salts serve as catalyst. Such a very strong acid in the present context is understood to mean a salt having a pKa (or in the case of polyprotic acids having a pKa of the first protolysis stage) of not more than −9.01. Preferably, the pKa of the very strong acid is between −9.5 and −25, more preferably between −9.9 and −21.


The pKa is defined as the negative decadic logarithm of the equilibrium constant Ka and is considered to be a measure of the strength of an acid. The smaller a pKa, the stronger the acid. The pKA is determined as disclosed in F. G. Bordwell, “Equilibrium Acidities in Dimethylsulfoxide Solution”, Acc. Chem. Res. 1988, 21, 456-463.


Preferred salts are the corresponding salts of the very strong acids collated in the first column in Table 1 below:











TABLE 1







Literature reference, if not disclosed in


Acid
pKA
Bordwell

















Perchloric acid
−10
1


Trifluoromethanesulfonic
−14



acid




Hydrogen iodide
−9.5
2


Hexafluorophosphoric
−10
3


acid




Hexafluoroantimonic
−17
3


acid





1) Hollemann Wiberg, Lehrbuch der anorganischen Chemie [Inorganic Chemistry], 91st-100th edition, Walter de Gruyter Verlag, Berlin, New York, 1985, p. 428.


2) Journal of Physical Chemistry A, Volume 120, Issue 20, Pages 3663-3669.


3) http://www.periodensystem-online.de/index.php?sel=wertdesc&prop=pKs-Werte&show=list&id=acid






The counterions of these very strong acids are selected from metal ions, metal-containing ions, phosphonium ions and unsubstituted ammonium ions. Preferred metal ions are alkaline earth metal cations, especially beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium and barium ions, and lithium, aluminium, bismuth, zinc and europium ions.


Metal-containing ions are ions that contain at least one metal but are not pure metal ions. They are preferably metal compound ions, for example tetraphenylstibonium ions.


The counterions may also be ammonium ions (NH4) or optionally alkylated and/or arylated phosphonium ions. Very particular preference is given to ammonium ions.


Preferred salts of very strong acids are calcium triflate, europium triflate, barium triflate, aluminium triflate, bismuth triflate, lithium triflate, lithium perchlorate, barium perchlorate, lithium hexafluorophosphate and zinc perchlorate. Very particular preference is given to calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium hexafluorophosphate and lithium perchlorate.


Preference is given to salts having good solubility in organic media (e.g. benzyl alcohol), i.e. salts having a solubility of at least 10 g/1 in benzyl alcohol at 20° C.


Preferably, the compositions according to the invention may further include d) amines not covered by the formula (I) and/or e) further auxiliaries or additives.


Amines d) not covered by the formula (I) are preferably di- or polyamines. These may be monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric compounds. Preferred monomeric and oligomeric compounds are selected from the group consisting of diamines, triamines and tetramines. The amine group of the di- or polyamines d) may be attached to a primary, secondary or tertiary carbon atom, preferably to a primary or secondary carbon atom. It is also possible to use mixtures of di- and/or polyamines as component d).


Components d) used may be the following amines, alone or in mixtures:

    • aliphatic amines, especially the polyalkylenepolyamines, preferably selected from ethylene-1,2-diamine, propylene-1,2-diamine, propylene-1,3-diamine, butylene-1,2-diamine, butylene-1,3-diamine, butylene-1,4-diamine, 2-(ethylamino)ethylamine, 3-(methylamino)propylamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, pentaethylenehexamine, trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2-methylpentanediamine, hexamethylenediamine, N-(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine, N-(3-aminopropyl)propane-1,3-diamine, N,N″-1,2-ethanediylbis(1,3-propanediamine), dipropylenetriamine, adipic dihydrazide and hydrazine;
    • oxyalkylenepolyamines, preferably selected from polyoxypropylenediamine and polyoxypropylenetriamine (e.g. Jeffamine® D-230, Jeffamine® D-400, Jeffamine® T-403, Jeffamine® T-5000), 1,13-diamino-4,7,10-trioxatridecane, 4,7-dioxadecane-1,10-diamine;
    • cycloaliphatic amines, preferably selected from isophoronediamine (3,5,5-trimethyl-3-aminomethylcyclohexylamine), 4,4′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, 2,4′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane and 2,2′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, alone or in mixtures of the isomers, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, N-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediamine, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 3-(cyclohexylamino)propylamine, TCD diamine (3(4),8(9)-bis(aminomethyl)tricyclo[5.2.1.02.6]decane), 4-methylcyclohexane-1,3-diamine;
    • araliphatic amines, preferably xylylenediamines;
    • aromatic amines, preferably phenylenediamines, especially phenylene-1,3-diamine and phenylene-1,4-diamine, and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 2,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 2,2′-diaminodiphenylmethane, optionally alone or in mixtures of the isomers;
    • adduct hardeners, especially reaction products of epoxy compounds, especially glycidyl ethers of bisphenol A and F, with excess amine;
    • polyamidoamine hardeners, especially polyamidoamine hardeners obtained by condensation of mono- and polycarboxylic acids with polyamines, very especially by condensation of dimer fatty acids with polyalkylenepolyamines;
    • Mannich base hardeners, especially Mannich base hardeners obtained by reaction of mono- or polyhydric phenols with aldehydes, especially formaldehyde, and polyamines; and
    • Mannich bases, especially based on phenol and/or resorcinol, formaldehyde and m-xylylenediamine, and also N-aminoethylpiperazine and blends of N-aminoethylpiperazine with nonylphenol and/or benzyl alcohol, phenalkamines which are obtained in a Mannich reaction from cardanols, aldehydes and amines.


It is also possible to use mixtures of the aforementioned di- or polyamines as component d).


Preferred further auxiliaries and admixtures e) may be the compounds customary in epoxy chemistry. Preferred auxiliaries and admixtures e) are pigments, solvents, levelling agents, modifiers, for example benzyl alcohol or nonylphenol, degassing agents, flatting agents, reactive diluents, and conventional catalysts such as salicylic acid, bisphenol A, 2,4,6-tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol and phenol derivatives.


In a preferred embodiment, no further amines d) not covered by the formula (I) are used. In a preferred embodiment, no further conventional catalysts are used, meaning that the possible auxiliaries and admixtures are limited to pigments, solvents, levelling agents, modifiers, degassing agents, flatting agents and reactive diluents.


The composition of components a) to e) in the composition according to the invention is preferably the following proportions by weight, based on the total mass of the composition:

  • a) epoxy resin 30-95%
  • b) cyclic amine 1-50%
  • c) salt of the very strong Brønsted acid 0.001-5%, preferably 0.1-3%,
  • d) further amine 0-48% and
  • e) further auxiliaries or additives 0-48%.


Preferably, in addition, the proportion by weight of the amines b) based on the total mass of the amines b) and d) is at least 10% by weight, more preferably at least 30% by weight, even more preferably at least 50% by weight and more preferably still at least 70% by weight.


The invention further provides a process for producing a composition according to the invention, in which at least one epoxy resin a), at least one cyclic amine b) and at least one salt of a very strong acid c) are mixed with one another.


The invention further provides for the use of the compositions according to the invention as a casting resin, coating composition, composite or adhesive or as a constituent thereof.


EXPERIMENTAL
Example 1

To demonstrate the particular reactivity of the catalysts claimed, model experiments are first compared with one another. For this purpose, 0.025 mol (3.75 g) of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane is added to a mixture of 22.68 g of toluene (solvent) and 2.08 g of tetradecane (internal standard). To this are added 0.025 mol (2.13 g) of piperidine, and 0.06 g of the particular catalyst. Immediately after the mixing, a GC is taken and the content of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane is compared with the content of tetradecane. After 4 h at room temperature, by means of GC analysis, the residual content of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane (EP) is ascertained (calibrated by the internal tetradecane standard). This gives the following results:


Comparison of the Catalysts

















% EP
% EP after



Catalyst
in the 0 sample
4 hours at RT


















 1*
No catalyst
97
93


 2*
Dibutyltin dilaurate
99
93


 3*
Diazabicyclononane (DBN)
97
95


 4*
Diazabicycloundecane (DBU)
96
93


 5*
Diazabicyclooctane (DABCO)
94
93


 6*
Zinc acetylacetonate
94
90


 7*
Tetrabutylammonium
91
87



tribromide




 8*
Bismuth neodecanoate
91
88


 9*
Titanium tetrabutoxide
95
94


10*
Salicylic acid
93
90


11*
Phenol
97
85


12
Calcium triflate
90
0


13
Bismuth triflate
90
57


14
Sodium triflate
96
52


15
Europium triflate
85
16


16
Barium triflate
96
37


17
Aluminium triflate
98
53


18
Lithium triflate
90
28


19
Lithium perchlorate
73
9


20
Barium perchlorate
85
26


21
Zinc perchlorate
96
46


22
Ammonium
86
43



hexafluorophosphate




23
Calcium perchlorate
98
49


24
Samarium iodide
98
37


25
Potassium
97
36



hexafluorophosphate




26
Lithium hexafluorophosphate
78
9


27
Zinc triflate
98
44


28
Copper triflate
93
48


29
Samarium triflate
84
32


30
Magnesium triflate
94
41


31
Indium triflate
89
39


32
Nickel triflate
100
56


33
Iron triflate
93
39


34
Manganese triflate
93
44


35
Tin triflate
96
42


36
Terbium triflate
90
41


37
Cadmium perchlorate
98
64


38
Iron perchlorate
97
52


39
Manganese perchlorate
98
59


40
Indium perchlorate
99
59





*Non-inventive comparative experiments






Example 2

To demonstrate the particular reactivity of the amines claimed, model experiments are first compared with one another. For this purpose, 0.025 mol (3.75 g) of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane is added to a mixture of 22.68 g of toluene (solvent) and 2.08 g of tetradecane (internal standard). To this are added 0.025 NH equivalent of an amine and 0.06 g of calcium triflate. Immediately after the mixing, a GC is taken and the content of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane is compared with the content of tetradecane. After 4 h at room temperature, by means of GC analysis, the residual content of 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane (EP) is ascertained (calibrated by the internal tetradecane standard). This gives the following results:


















% EP in the 0
% EP after
% EP after



Amine
sample
4 hours at RT
4 hours at 5° C.



















1*
Butylamine
92
52
73


2*
Methylpropylamine
92
46
91


3*
Ethanolamine
91
63
80


4
Piperidine
93
0
32





*Non-inventive comparative experiments






It is clearly apparent from the model experiments that the compositions claimed are much more reactive than conventional systems.


Comparative Example 3A

100 parts aminoethylpiperazine (AEP, Aldrich) are intimately mixed with 446 parts Epikote 828 (epoxy equivalent 190, Hexion) and a DSC is taken immediately thereafter.


Comparative Example 3B

0.5 part calcium triflate (Aldrich) is dissolved in 100 parts aminoethylpiperazine (AEP, Aldrich) and this mixture is intimately mixed with 446 parts Epikote 828 (epoxy equivalent 190, Hexion) and a DSC is taken immediately thereafter.















Recipe No.











3a*
3b










DSC analysis immediate












Exothermic peak
° C.
97
74



Onset
° C.
61
32



Exothermic heat flow
J/g
500
456



Tg max.
° C.
121
122





*Non-inventive comparative experiments






In the inventive experiment, the exothermic peak is 23° C. lower, and the onset of this exothermic peak is 29° C. lower. The reactive composition according to the invention is thus much more reactive.

Claims
  • 1. A composition comprising of the following constituents a) an epoxy resin selected from the group consisting of a polyepoxide based on bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, 4,4′-methylenebis[N,N-bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)aniline], hexanediol diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether, propane-1,2,3-triol triglycidyl ether, pentaerythritol tetraglycidyl ether and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate; b) a cyclic amine of the formula (I)
  • 2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the epoxy groups in the epoxy resin to the sum total of all NH groups of the cyclic amine is from 0.8:1 to 1.2:1.
  • 3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the epoxy resin is a liquid diglycidyl ether based on bisphenol A and bisphenol F having an epoxy equivalent of from 150 to 200 g/eq, and wherein the ratio of the epoxy groups in the epoxy resin to the sum total of all NH groups in all amines is from 0.9:1 to 1.1:1.
  • 4. The composition according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the R1, R2, R3 and R4 radicals in formula (I)=H, wherein the salt of the Brønsted acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium perchlorate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
  • 5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein A1, A2 and A3 independently have the formula (III))) —(CR7R8)x—(CR9═CR10)y—(CR11R12)z—  (III)in which, independently of one another,R7, R8, R9, R10R11, and R12=H or organic radical and 1<x+y+z<7.
  • 6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein X in formula (II) has a chain length of 2 to 15 atoms, and wherein the salt of a Brønsted acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium perchlorate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
  • 7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein X has the formula (IIa) with x and z=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7,o=0 or 1, 2<x+o+z<15R7, R8, R11 and R12=H or organic radical andand Y═NR5, PR5, O or S, where R5=organic radical.
  • 8. The composition according to claim 7, wherein x=1, 2, 3 or 4, o=0 or 1 and z=0, 1 or 2.
  • 9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the cyclic amine of the formula (I) is selected from the group consisting of 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine, 1-(3-aminopropyl)piperazine, 1-imidazolidinoethanamine, imidazolidino-N-propanamine, α-methyl-1-piperazinethanamine, 2,6-dimethyl-1-piperazinoethanamine, 2-amino-1-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanone, 4-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine, 3-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine and 2-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine.
  • 10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the composition also includes e) further auxiliaries or additives, andwherein the salt of a Brønsted acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium triflate, lithium perchlorate and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
  • 11. The composition as claimed in claim 10, wherein the composition includes components a) to e) in the following percentages by weight, based on the total mass of the composition: a) from 30-95% of the epoxy resin,b) from 1-50% of the cyclic amine,c) from 0.001-5% salt of the Brønsted acid,d) an amine not covered by b), ande) not greater than 48% of further auxiliaries or additives, andwherein the percentage by weight of the cyclic amine b) based on the total mass of the amines b) and d) is at least 70% by weight.
  • 12. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the ratio of the epoxy groups in the epoxy resin to the sum total of all NH groups of the cyclic amine is from 0.8:1 to 1.2:1 and wherein the salt of a Brønsted acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium perchlorate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
  • 13. A composition comprising of the following constituents a) an epoxy resin selected from a group consisting of liquid diglycidyl ether based on bisphenol A and bisphenol F having an epoxy equivalent of from 150 to 200 g/eq,b) from 1 to 50% of a cyclic amine selected from the group consisting of aminoethylpiperazine (AEP, 1-(2-aminoethyl)piperazine), 1-(3-aminopropyl)-piperazine, 1-imidazolidinoethanamine, imidazolidino-N-propanamine, α-methyl-1-piperazinethanamine, 2,6-dimethyl-1-piperazinoethanamine, 2-amino-1-(piperazin-1-yl)ethanone, 4-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine, 3-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine and 2-(2-aminoethyl)piperidine,c) a salt of a Brønsted acid selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, barium triflate, aluminium triflate, bismuth triflate, lithium triflate, lithium perchlorate, barium perchlorate, lithium hexafluorophosphate and zinc perchlorate,d) an amine not covered by the part b), wherein the percentage by weight of the cyclic amine b) based on the total mass of the amines b) and d) is at least 70% by weight, and the amine not covered by the part b) is selected from the group consisting of ethylene-1,2-diamine, propylene-1,2-diamine, propylene-1,3-diamine, butylene-1,2-diamine, butylene-1,3-diamine, butylene-1,4-diamine, 2-(ethylamino)ethylamine, 3-(methylamino)propylamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetramine, pentaethylenehexamine, trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,2,4-trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2,4,4-trimethylhexamethylenediamine, 2-methylpentanediamine, hexamethylenediamine, N-(2-aminoethyl)ethane-1,2-diamine, N-(3-aminopropyl)propane-1,3-diamine, N,N″-1,2-ethanediylbis(1,3-propanediamine), dipropylenetriamine, adipic dihydrazide and hydrazine; 1,13-diamino-4,7,10-trioxatridecane, 4,7-dioxadecane-1,10-diamine;isophoronediamine (3,5,5-trimethyl-3-aminomethylcyclohexylamine), 4,4′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane, 2,4′-diaminodicyclohexylmethane and 2,2′-diaminodi-cyclohexylmethane, alone or in mixtures of the isomers, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diamino-dicyclohexylmethane, N-cyclohexyl-1,3-propanediamine, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 3-(cyclohexylamino)-propylamine, TCD diamine (3(4),8(9)-bis(aminomethyl)-tricyclo[5.2.1.02,6]decane), 4-methylcyclohexane-1,3-diamine;phenylene-1,3-diamine and phenylene-1,4-diamine, and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 2,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane, 2,2′-diaminodiphenylmethane, andwherein the ratio of the epoxy groups in the epoxy resin to the sum total of all NH groups in all amines is from 0.9:1 to 1.1:1.
  • 14. The composition according to claim 13, wherein the salt of a Brønsted acid is selected from the group consisting of calcium triflate, europium triflate, lithium perchlorate, and lithium hexafluorophosphate.
  • 15. The process for producing a composition according to claim 13, wherein the epoxy resin a), the cyclic amine b) and the salt of a Brønsted acid c) are mixed with one another.
  • 16. A composite comprising the composition according to claim 13.
  • 17. A casting resin comprising the composition according to claim 13.
  • 18. A coating composition comprising the composition according to claim 13.
  • 19. An adhesive comprising the composition according to claim 13.
Priority Claims (1)
Number Date Country Kind
18172951 May 2018 EP regional
US Referenced Citations (68)
Number Name Date Kind
2928794 Belanger et al. Mar 1960 A
3055901 Speranza et al. Sep 1962 A
3277049 Green Oct 1966 A
3492269 Janssen et al. Jan 1970 A
3649589 Mayfield Mar 1972 A
4101459 Andrews Jul 1978 A
4775734 Goel Oct 1988 A
5441000 Vatsky et al. Aug 1995 A
5470896 Wegmann et al. Nov 1995 A
5629380 Baldwin et al. May 1997 A
5707702 Brady, Jr. Jan 1998 A
5847027 Marten et al. Dec 1998 A
6355763 Scherzer Mar 2002 B1
8951619 Wilmot et al. Feb 2015 B2
8980979 Dettloff et al. Mar 2015 B2
9006385 Wilmot et al. Apr 2015 B2
9346911 Schrötz et al. May 2016 B2
9567480 Vogel et al. Feb 2017 B2
9686898 Ortelt et al. Jun 2017 B2
9840588 Corley et al. Dec 2017 B2
9862673 Rüfer et al. Jan 2018 B2
9868702 Rüfer et al. Jan 2018 B2
9994671 Fuchsmann et al. Jun 2018 B2
10093159 Zichettello et al. Oct 2018 B1
10093765 Stache et al. Oct 2018 B2
10093826 Stache et al. Oct 2018 B2
10160717 Rüfer et al. Dec 2018 B2
10173979 Rüfer et al. Jan 2019 B2
10214612 Langkabel et al. Feb 2019 B2
10221277 Langkabel et al. Mar 2019 B2
10252980 Rüfer et al. Apr 2019 B1
10280252 Balthasar et al. May 2019 B2
10384977 Fuchsmann et al. Aug 2019 B2
10472460 Fuchsmann et al. Nov 2019 B2
10611782 Kreczinski et al. Apr 2020 B2
10626131 Kreczinski et al. Apr 2020 B2
10633401 Kreczinski et al. Apr 2020 B2
10669293 Kreczinski et al. Jun 2020 B2
20020187305 Czaplicki et al. Dec 2002 A1
20050119372 Czaplicki et al. Jun 2005 A1
20050215757 Kobayashi et al. Sep 2005 A1
20060188726 Muenz et al. Aug 2006 A1
20090226729 Niimoto et al. Sep 2009 A1
20100273005 Kramer et al. Oct 2010 A1
20110126980 Campbell Jun 2011 A1
20110152448 Corley et al. Jun 2011 A1
20110281117 Fuchsmann et al. Nov 2011 A1
20120010330 Dettloff et al. Jan 2012 A1
20120024224 Nanchiku et al. Feb 2012 A1
20140171551 Patel Jun 2014 A1
20140296381 Schrötz et al. Oct 2014 A1
20150094400 Zheng et al. Apr 2015 A1
20150140675 Xu May 2015 A1
20170240691 Zheng et al. Aug 2017 A1
20170355810 Langkabel et al. Dec 2017 A1
20170369372 Fuchsmann et al. Dec 2017 A1
20180127980 Fuchsmann et al. May 2018 A1
20180155515 Spyrou et al. Jun 2018 A1
20180327538 Lomölder et al. Nov 2018 A1
20190300549 Kreczinski et al. Oct 2019 A1
20190300550 Kreczinski et al. Oct 2019 A1
20190300551 Kreczinski et al. Oct 2019 A1
20190300553 Kreczinski et al. Oct 2019 A1
20190352449 Spyrou et al. Nov 2019 A1
20190352451 Spyrou et al. Nov 2019 A1
20190352452 Spyrou et al. Nov 2019 A1
20200079894 Unkelhäuβer et al. Mar 2020 A1
20200172723 Spyrou et al. Jun 2020 A1
Foreign Referenced Citations (29)
Number Date Country
1312174 Dec 1992 CA
2145589 Sep 1995 CA
2165585 Jun 1996 CA
102858837 Jan 2013 CN
103974993 Aug 2014 CN
106833261 Jun 2017 CN
106905816 Jun 2017 CN
108047649 May 2018 CN
1954701 May 1971 DE
10 2009 028019 Aug 2010 DE
0083813 Jul 1983 EP
0 291 455 Nov 1988 EP
0 604 363 Jun 1994 EP
0 675 185 Oct 1995 EP
0675182 Oct 1995 EP
0969030 Jan 2000 EP
1 047 740 Nov 2000 EP
2957584 Dec 2015 EP
3 162 829 May 2017 EP
3255078 Dec 2017 EP
1105772 Mar 1968 GB
1303775 Jan 1973 GB
2332202 Jun 1999 GB
H08-113876 May 1996 JP
9609352 Mar 1996 WO
9929790 Jun 1999 WO
2010107539 Sep 2010 WO
2017074810 May 2017 WO
2018000125 Jan 2018 WO
Non-Patent Literature Citations (21)
Entry
Kreczinski et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/354,349, filed Mar. 15, 2019.
Kreczinski et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/354,753, filed Mar. 15, 2019.
Kreczinski et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/356,026, filed Mar. 18, 2019.
Kreczinski et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/356,081, filed Mar. 18, 2019.
European Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2018 in EP 18172951.8 (7 pages).
Spyrou et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/408,725, filed May 10, 2019.
Spyrou et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/408,794, filed May 10, 2019.
Spyrou et al., U.S. Appl. No. 16/409,907, filed May 13, 2019.
Bordwell, “Equilibrium Acidities in Dimethyl Sulfoxide Solution,” copyright 1988, Acc. Chem. Res., vol. 21, pp. 456-463 (8 pages).
Hexafluoroantimonsaure, pKs-Wert—17 (1 page).
Hexafluorophosphorsaure, pKs-Wert—10 (1 page).
Lee et al., Handbook of Epoxy Resins, Chapter 2, Synthesis of Glycidyl-Type Epoxy Resins, pp. 2-2 to 2-33 (35 pages).
Tetrafluoroboric Acid, Encyclopedia of Reagents for Organic Synthesis, pp. 4762-4765 (4 pages).
Trummel et al., “Acidity of Strong Acids in Water and Dimethyl Sulfoxide,” copyright 2016, J. Phys. Chem. A, vol. 120, pp. 3663-3669 (7 pages).
European Search Report dated Jun. 6, 2019 in EP 18209073.8 (6 pages).
European Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2018 in EP 18172954.2 (7 pages).
European Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2018 in EP 1817949.2 (7 pages).
European Search Report dated Sep. 24, 2018 in EP 1817950.0 (7 pages).
International Search Report dated Dec. 26, 2018 in PCT/CN2018/101583 (3 pages).
Lee et al., “Handbook of Epoxy Resins,” McGraw Hill, New York, 1967, pp. 5-1 to 5-24 (13 pages).
Written Opinion dated Dec. 26, 2018 in PCT/CN2018/101583 (4 pages).
Related Publications (1)
Number Date Country
20190352450 A1 Nov 2019 US