A new route to high-performance Flexible coatings and adhesives: 2K STPE/epony technology

摘要

In the past half century, the global market of sealants and adhesives in construction and industrial applications has experienced significant growth. Polyurethane, silicone, and silyl terminated polyether (STPE) based materials have substantial market share in sealant applications due to their superb flexibility and adhesive characteristics, while epoxy products have remained a dominant force in adhesive applications due to their outstanding strength and good adhesion properties after surface treatment. While above chemistries can meet most application requirements, there are still performance gaps to be filled that require a balance of strength, flexibility, and adhesion. Examples of such opportunities include a primer, which can endure structural movement, and an adhesive that can withstand substrate vibrations or oscillations. Silyl terminated polyethers (STPE) have an established history and are known to provide benefits such as being solvent-free, isocyanate-free, and offer primerless adhesion to a wide range of materials such as metals, wood, glass, and many plastics. A more recent breakthrough, developed by Kaneka, is to combine MS Polymer?, an STPE, with epoxy technology as a two-component (2K) system to provide a balance of high strength performance and flexibility. The cured compound also provides bonding properties similar to traditional epoxy materials.