Cycloaliphatic carbonates as reactive diluents in epoxy resins

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method for limiting peak exotherm temperatures in epoxy systems comprising the step of: combining an amine hardener, an epoxy and a diluent to form an epoxy system, wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, delta-valerolactam, delta-valerolactone, gamma valerolactone, butyrolactam, beta butyrolactone, gamma butyrolactone, and combinations thereof.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for limiting peak exotherm temperatures in an epoxy system comprising the step of:
 combining an amine hardener, an epoxy, and a diluent to form an epoxy system;   wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of: ethylene carbonate, propylene carbonate, butylene carbonate, delta-valerolactam, delta-valerolactone, gamma valerolactone, butyrolactam, beta butyrolactone, gamma butyrolactone, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the diluent is propylene carbonate 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the diluent is selected from the group consisting of: delta-valerolactam, delta-valerolactone, gamma valerolactone, butyrolactam, beta butyrolactone, gamma butyrolactone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the epoxy system is substantially free of an aliphatic glycidyl ether. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the aliphatic glycidyl ether comprises a diglycidyl ether of 1,4-butane diol. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the amine hardener comprises an aliphatic amine having an amine-hydrogen functionality greater than two amine hydrogens per molecule. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the epoxy comprises a multifunctional polyglycidyl ether of dihydric phenol. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of heating the epoxy system. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of injecting, filling, or infusing the epoxy system into a mold. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein the mold is a wind blade mold. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the diluent has a weight percent in the epoxy system in the range of from about two percent to about thirty percent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising the step of adding a reactivity agent to the epoxy system. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the reactivity agent is selected from the group consisting of: glycerin carbonate, glycerin, N-aminoethyl piperazine, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the epoxy system further comprises an additive. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the additive is selected from the group consisting of: a processing aid, a filler, a stabilizer, an additive, an adjuvant and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         16 . An article of manufacture produced by the method of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . The article of manufacture of  claim 16 , wherein the article of manufacture comprises a wind blade. 
     
     
         18 . The use of the method of  claim 1  to produce a molded epoxy composite article. 
     
     
         19 . The use of the method of  claim 16  wherein the epoxy composite article comprises a composite blade used in the generation of electricity.