Henkel Corporation

Bradley L Hilborn

Bruce Lee Harrison

Vettithara C Koshy

A high performance structural foam is used for stiffening parts such as plastic parts. The foam could be formulated for in-mold use at elevated temperatures or at ambient temperatures for use with previously molded parts. Various ingredients are used to control the properties of the foam.

Method of forming a high performance structural foam for stiffening parts

Foamable compositions which exhibit reduced surface tack and better handling characteristics are obtained through the use of specific combinations of epoxy resins. One or more solid epoxy resins are utilized together with liquid and/or semi-solid epoxy resins. The compositions, which preferably contain hollow glass microspheres, are capable of providing foams which are useful in the manufacture of reinforced structural members.

Reduced tack compositions useful for the production of reinforcing foams

Titanates and zirconates bearing organic substituents can act as corrosion inhibitors when added to foamable compositions based on thermosettable synthetic resins such as epoxy resins. Combinations of organometallates containing certain specific types of substituents provide synergistic improvements in the properties of structural reinforcement foams obtained by heating and curing the foamable compositions.

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Ferndale, MI, United States of America

Bradley L Hilborn