Mixing It Up: Bayer MaterialScience Polyurethanes Help Toughen Up Epoxy Adhesives

Louisville, KY, October 18, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Commercial epoxy adhesives are prone to brittleness. However, research shows that adding polyurethanes to an epoxy resin creates a tougher, more durable adhesive. The mixture capitalizes on polyurethane’s toughness, and the resulting hybrid adhesive reduces the brittleness to which stand-alone epoxy adhesives are prone.

Dr. Jay A. Johnston, senior scientist, Bayer MaterialScience LLC, will discuss the advantages of adding polyurethane to an epoxy-based adhesive during his presentation, “Hybrid Adhesives with Improved Adhesion and Increased Temperature Resistance,” Tuesday, Oct. 23 at the Adhesive & Sealant Convention 2012 Fall Conference and Expo.

Johnston’s discussion will explain how adding a blocked polyurethane prepolymer into the backbone of an epoxy adhesive offers improved cure rates, increased temperature resistance and better adhesion to many different substrates. He will also explain how polyurethane prepolymers blocked with phenolic compounds unblock at room temperature in the presence of a strong amine without any additional heat.

Other benefits include:

· Increasing the epoxy resin’s reactivity, which enhances its green strength

· Improving tear resistance, toughness, and impact resistance through phase separation of the soft polyurethane segment from the epoxy matrix

· Allowing full polymerization of the epoxy resin before vitrification occurs through the addition of a second, lower glass transition temperature phase.
Johnston also will provide results from several comparative tests of epoxy adhesives with and without blocked polyurethane prepolymers that further demonstrate the benefits of adding these polyurethanes to commercial epoxy adhesives.

About Bayer MaterialScience LLC:

Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with approximately 14,800 employees at 30 production sites around the world and 2011 sales of 10.8 billion euros. Bayer MaterialScience’s 2011 sales in North America were $2.9 billion. The company manufactures high-tech polymer materials and develops innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, electrical and electronics, construction, medical, and sports and leisure industries. Sustainability is central to Bayer MaterialScience LLC’s business and is based around the key areas of innovation, product stewardship, excellence in corporate management, social responsibility and respect for the environment.

Contact:
Thomas Erdner, Phone: 412-777-5200
Email: thomas.erdner@bayer.com

For more information about Bayer MaterialScience LLC's coatings, adhesives and specialties, call 412-777-3983 or visit www.bmsnafta.com.

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