Low Molecular Weight Polyphenylene Ether (PPE) Resins for Improving Performance of Elastomer and Thermoset Adhesives, 2000 Hot Melt Symposium Proceedings

Benny David, David Reis, Jos Braat--New low molecular weight grades of polyphenylene ether (PPE) resins are found to be effective in enhancing the high temperature performance of styrenic thermoplastic elastomers both block and random copolymer types. Service temperature increases up to 20-40 degrees C are possible. This improvement is due to better compatibility and easier processability of the new PPE grades. These PPE resins can serve as new additive building blocks for use in adhesive and sealant formulations both hot melt and solvent based.

PPE resins of tailored molecular can also be successfully used to toughen epoxy type resins. Fracture toughness improvements of up to 300 %, along with significant improvement in the dielectric properties, have been observed. The increase depends upon the quantity and molecular weight of the PPE resin used, the type of epoxy resins and catalysts used to prepare these compounds. Results can probably be extended to other thermoset resin families such as cyanate esters, bismaleimides, vinyl esters and unsaturated polyester resins.