CHARACTERIZATION OF THE BINDER DISTRIBUTION AND RHEOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AS IMPERATIVE FACTORS IN DETERMING RELATIVE PERFORMANCE PROPERTIES OF THE THERMOSETTING RESINS

摘要

The strength of a nonwoven product could be simply distinguished as a summation of the strength contributed by the base web and the binder. However, the interactions between the web and the binder have demonstrated significant impact on the glass mat performance. Beside the cohesion and the adhesion, the binder distribution/placement also needs to be taken into a consideration in the binder examination. It is not clear whether the optimum binder distribution consists of an even binder coverage over the whole fiber, or spot welding of the web by concentrating the binder at the fiber cross-points. In this study fluorescence microscopy was used to determine binder placement. The method makes use of the principle that most binders (adhesives) will fluoresce in their natural form (primary or auto-fluorescence) or when treated with dyes or pigments that are capable of fluorescing (secondary fluorescence). This study showed that by using the fluorescence microscope technique differences in the binder distribution can be clearly detected as a function of binder chemistry and rheology.