Dimension Technology Chemical Systems
We at DTCS are dedicated to answering any technical questions you might have about our Catalysts or Department of Defense technologies.
Dimension Technology Chemical Systems, Inc. is a global supplier of company proprietary catalysts that are specificity designed to give maximum curing performance of epoxy formulations and facilitate the formation of epoxy-derivatives (monomer or intermediates) for a number of commercial applications.
Dimension Technology Chemical Systems, Inc. is a leader in chemical process research and development especially suited for Department of Defense (DOD) requirements and supplies the DOD with products particularly valuable for the security of our country.
Below are links to our product overviews as well as technical data. If you have any questions about anything you read or have other comments or questions please contact our Sales Department, General Manager, or Research Director directly. As always the best way to keep up to date with DTCS Products, Services, and Technical publications is to subscribe to our newsletter.
Bi-Weekly our Director of Research and Development, Renato Rindone, writes a short blog about some of his thoughts and ideas concerning the application of Hycat™ catalysts as well as other subjects pertaining to the field of polymers.
Research Director's Blog
If you are interested in the subject presented feel free to comment.
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A Colorless Epoxy Catalysts |
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Written by Rose M. Beeler
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Wednesday, 07 April 2010 09:50 |
Hycat AO-3
A common problem with various epoxy cures is the tendency for the cured products to be colored due to the components in the formulation, sensitivity to elevated cure temperatures and the chemical interaction of the catalyst during the cure. Combine with this the requirements for catalytic latency and ease of use for component blending only adds to the quest for the ideal cure system. Hycat™ AO-3, produced by Dimension Technology Chemical Systems, Inc., achieves these goals of clear and colorless and fast cures when reacting anhydrides with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, diglycidyl ether bisphenol F and cycloaliphatic diepoxides. Other epoxides are expected to behave favorably in similar formulations. Commonly used catalysts do not give these desired results. For example, a large difference in color was observed comparing the use of different cure catalysts. In a typical formulation of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DER 354) and methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride (Lindride 52D) with 2.0 % catalyst loading at 120°C there is a noticeable change in color or uniformity of cure when comparing Hycat™ AO-3 to tetrabutylammonium bromide (TBABr) or 1,8-diaza-bicyclo[5.4.0]undec-7-ene (DBU) and benzyldimethylamine (BDMA).
Additionally, Hycat™ AO-3 gave good cure time and hardness values.
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TBABr
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DBU
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BDMA
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Hycat™ AO-3
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Cure Time (min.)
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8-12
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8-12
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4-8
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12-16
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Hardness Test, Durometer Type D
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86
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88
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86
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89
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Again, when diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DER 332) was reacted with MHHPA (Lindride 52D) with 2.0 % Hycat™ AO-3 catalyst loading at 120ºC, a clear and colorless cure resulted. By contrast, using the catalysts TBABr, DBU, and BDMA resulted in highly colored cures or considerable voids throughout the cure.
And as before, the cure time and hardness was favorable.
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TBABr
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DBU
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BDMA
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Hycat™ AO-3
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Cure Time (min.)
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8-12
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8-12
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8-12
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12-16
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Hardness Test, Durometer Type D
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86
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87
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86
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89
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A full technichal data packet is available. You may also contact DTCS with questions about Hycat™ AO-3 by leaving a comment on this blog or by contacting our research director Renato Rindone directly. Free sample requests are now being taken for the new Hycat™ AO-3 as well.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 08 April 2010 13:27 |
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