Preface
This third edition contains selected chapters on chemistry is carried out in the supplier site, while in
various thermoset materials, old ones and the most
novel ones. The final selection of chapters in this
edition was based on modern technology and appli-
cations as well as novel thermoset chemistry cover-
ing many facets of thermoset polymer science and
technology as prepared by scientists and experts
hailed from many corners of the globe.
The science, technology, and applications of ther-
mosets encompass creativity and imagination, which
are common in both science and art, and that serve
as a locomotive to pull forward innovations in tech-
nology, materials, and products. It is for good reason
that Leonardo da Vinci’s dictum “study the science
of art and the art of science” is inscribed in one of
the rooms in Leonardo Park in Amboise, France. The
scientist visualizes the mass molecules, studies their
chemical structure by advanced spectroscopic means,
and then changes them according to the particular
function they are meant to serve.
The advantage of plastics in general and thermo-
set in particular lies in its wondrous synergy with
science, engineering, design, and art. Over the past
few years there has been growing interest in quality
plastic ware: plastic has gotten out of the ghetto of
popular production, and people are inundated with
colorful, sophisticated, tactilely pleasing plastic pro-
ducts, in prestigious design shops and design exhibi-
tions. Focus on the material itself by developing
means of production, unusual materials, and innova-
tive technologies allows product designers to
improve functional items and make them aesthetically
valuable.
Extensive research in diverse fields such as
industry, architecture, and product design has
resulted in a more economical use of materials, cou-
pled with enhanced functionality. Extensive engineer-
ing support, including simulations and tests of
strength, provides the context for creative solutions
and facilitates original design concepts.
Thermoset technology is distinctively different
from the respective thermoplastic technology. The
latter is somewhat simple, as the polymerization
the former case the polymerization and final molecu-
lar architecture is controlled in situ by the end user.
Hence, thermoset technology has an additional
degree of freedom enabling us to design the network
curing density and its derived mechanical as well as
thermal and physical properties.
It is difficult to imagine any contemporary product
used at home, in industry, land transportation, aero-
space, in the medical field or anywhere else that does
not use, in some manner, a composite, an adhesive,
a sealant, or a coating based on a thermoset polymeric
system. New developments, e.g., chemistry, nano-
technology, encapsulation techniques, have opened
up new opportunities for incorporation of new ther-
moset polymers.
This third edition contains 18 chapters, covering all
thermosets resins, from the oldest to the novel ones,
including their chemistry, properties, and applications.
The structure-process-property relationships are
described followed by relevant examples. The novel
directions in nanotechnology, the trend in renewable
sources, and new thermosets resins are described in
specific chapters as well as novel processing and char-
acterization methods specifically for thermoset resins.
It should be noted that the contents are very current as
the authors were asked not only to revise but also to
update their articles according to the latest trends in
2013. Consequently, the chapters in this book offer
insight into recent developments and perspectives
on many significant ramifications of thermoset
polymers science and technology. Hence, this
text should be of interest to individuals engaged
and/or interested in the world of thermosets in aca-
demia, government research laboratories, a variety
of industries, and other research institutes. Thus the
value to the engineer, technician, or scientist con-
tinues to be as a comprehensive overview, a place
to get started and continue in thermoset polymers.
To those practicing the trade, the new information
will augment that which is known and offer fresh
concepts for consideration as you ponder the solu-
tion to the next problem or design.
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The 18 chapters written by world-renowned
researchers have been updated as follows:
Chapters 1 and 18: revised introduction and
novel processing and characterization methods.
Chapters 2, 3, and 4: revised the amino as well
as the phenol resins and shed light on the new
generations based on polybenzooxazine resins.
Chapters 5, 6, and 7: revised the old and added
novel polyester, vinyl ester, allyls, and furan resins.
Chapters 8 and 9: revised the most popular
epoxy and polyurethane resins.
Chapters 10, 11, and 12: cover elevated tempera-
ture thermoset resins, polyimides, cyanate esters,
and the novel maleimide based alder-ene resins.
Chapters 13 and 14: revised the silicones as well
as the syntactic foams based thermoset resins.
Chapters 15 and 16: cover the trend of using
renewable sources resins for bio-based thermoset
resins and summarizes the nanotechnology trends
in the field.
Chapter 17: revised the cross-linking of thermo-
plastic resins.
I would like to take this opportunity to describe
my personal approach to thermosets polymers.
More than three decades ago, after my Ph.D. and
post-doctoral, I joined the Israel MOD (Ministry Of
Defense) research laboratories. My scientific back-
ground was physical organic chemistry, especially
photo physical behavior of novel fluorescent probes
for biological systems. I had no experience and no
know-how in thermoset polymers.
During the first years in the laboratory, I joined
the adhesion and encapsulation group where I had
to study various systems using thermoset adhe-
sives, encapsulation resins, and coatings. One of
my colleagues made an enthusiastic presentation
about epoxy. However, when I wondered and
asked about the exact chemical structure, synthe-
sis, characterizations, and predicted properties for
longer times he could not answer me. I began to
search the literature and the only book I could find
at the beginning of the 80s was the first edition of
this Handbook.
For the first years I worked in nearly all phases
of thermoset technology, expanding into urethanes,
taught about phenolic, polyesters, silicones, and
polyimides, and other thermosets. Throughout this
PREFACE
time I was always conscious of thermoset technol-
ogy’s significant role in the plastics industry.
After joining the academia (mid 90s) and trying
to teach students in Plastics Engineering the chem-
istry and properties and curing processes as well
as characterization I found it very difficult since
no good textbook existed and most data was either
commercial or kept confidential. The detailed
syntheses as well as resultant chemical structures
were not known. I had to study it in order to be able
to tailor specific properties for specific needs and
requirements.
With time, however, the plastics industry has so
burgeoned that its technology and technologists have
elucidated the importance of thermosets. Production
figures continuously define unsaturated polyesters,
urethanes, and epoxies as major commercial entities.
The technical base has largely grown, accompanied
by significant theoretical understanding of the chem-
ical processes, manufacturing techniques, and design
of properties. In short, there is more science and less
black magic involved today.
Consequently, after three decades of research and
development in the industry and academia I felt
that this was the time to revise and refresh the second
edition and to prepare the most updated third edition
of thermoset chemistry, processing as well as applica-
tions. When Elsevier approached me I agreed to take
part and to lead this effort.
Although grounded in polymer chemistry and
science, the papers presented here do not require
expertise in these disciplines. It is sufficient for the
reader to understand the general principles in the
introduction i.e., learn the jargon and then can pro-
ceed to any specific chapter for the information
sought. If there is to be a consistent thread throughout
each chapter, it is that thermoset plastics are materials
of construction, subject to strengths and weaknesses,
as well as proper use and misuse. The data and
descriptions presented are for engineers, scientists,
technicians, and students who are routinely involved
and take actions on the basis of informed analysis. It
is our intent to help these readers make the right deci-
sions and take the correct actions and thereby avoid
the pitfalls our experience has uncovered.
To each of the contributors, my personal thanks
for their hard work, cooperation, and enthusiasm on
this project. I speak for all the contributors in
thanking that small ‘army’ of support who helped
with the tough parts: typing, editing, proofreading,
offering suggestions: Finally, but no less important,
PREFACE
our thanks to Elsevier and their staff for making
order out of chaos and keeping us in full view of
our final goal.
My special thanks to Mr. Sidney Goodman for
his great contribution to the thermoset world. The
two previous editions that he edited served for me
as a guide and textbook for my activity in teaching
students as well as my research in the academia
and industry.
xix
I hope that the third edition will serve as a guide
for the future in the thermosets’ polymer world.
Prof. Hanna Dodiuk
Head of Polymers and Plastics Engineering,
Pernick Faculty of Engineering,
Shenkar College of Engineering,
Design and Art, Ramat-Gan,
Israel