Frontal polymerization: An innovative technology for efficient curing of epoxy resins

 
Epoxy resins are currently used in a wide variety of high tech applications such as adhesives, protective coatings, or lightweight automotive and airplane parts. State of the art curing technologies (amine and anhydride based 2-component-systems) only offer short pot life, are time consuming and require very expensive infrastructure. Therefore a novel and innovative curing technology is in high demand. Frontal polymerization is known as a polymerization process in which the polymerization occurs directionally in a localized reaction zone. After an external stimulus (light or heat) initiates the process, a sophisticated reaction cascade is started, whereby a self-sustaining polymerization front is formed that moves through the whole formulation. With the use of this ground-breaking technology, highly energy and time efficient curing (also under harsh conditions, e.g. water) of various epoxy systems (thin film applications, bulk materials, fibre and particle composites) is possible for a broad spectra of industrial applications.