Epoxy resin composition excellent in weather resistance and fiber-reinforced composite materials

• US 6,902,811 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 06/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Toray Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Toray Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Murai, Shoji, Tanaka, Go, Oosedo, Hiroki, Kouchi, Shinji
• Primary Examiner(s): Feely, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US10/362,701
• Publication Number:
  US 20040031952A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,077 Days
• Field of Search: 428/297.4, 428/300.7, 428/301.4, 428/375, 428/396, 428/413, 428/414, 525/533, 523/400, 296/1.01, 473/569
• US Class Current: 428/413
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/24 carbocyclic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/3218 Carbocyclic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/42 Polycarboxylic acids; Anhydrides, halides or low molecular weight esters thereof
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 59/4215 cycloaliphatic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/293 Organic, e.g. plastic
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 23/295 containing a filler H01L23/296 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/0002 Not covered by any one of groups H01L24/00, H01L24/00 and H01L2224/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249924 Noninterengaged fiber-containing paper-free web or sheet which is not of specified porosity
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24994 Fiber embedded in or on the surface of a polymeric matrix
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24995 Two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/249952 At least one thermosetting synthetic polymeric material layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31511 Of epoxy ether

Abstract

The present invention relates to an epoxy resin composition comprising at least (A) an epoxy resin having a cycloalkane ring or cyclohexene ring but having neither aromatic ring nor aminic nitrogen atom, (B) a carboxylic anhydride having no aromatic ring, and (C) an ultraviolet absorbent, wherein a content of component (A) is from 70 to 100 percents by weight based on the total weight of epoxy resins, and a content of component (B) is from 70 to 100 percents by weight based on the total weight of carboxylic anhydrides. By this constitution, the present invention can provide an epoxy resin composition whose cured product excels in mechanical properties and weatherability, and a fiber reinforced composite material having excellent mechanical properties and weatherability.

Claims

1. A fiber reinforced composite material comprising reinforcing fibers and a thermosetting matrix resin, which has a color difference Δ

E*ab of not more than 4 in a 1500-hour weatherometer test by a sunshine carbon arc light without painting;

wherein the thermotsetting matrix resin is a cured epoxy resin product obtained by curing an epoxy resin composition comprising;

(A) an epoxy resin havina a cycloalkane ring or a cyclohexene ring but having neither aromatic ring nor aminic nitrogen atom,

(B) a carboxylic anhydride having no aromatic nitrogen atom, and

(C) an ultraviolet absorbent,

wherein a content of component (A) is from 70 to 100 percent by weight based on the total weight of epoxy resin, and a content of component (B) is from 70 to 100 percent by weight based on the total weight of carboxylic anhydride.

2. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1, wherein the flexural modulus at room temperature of the thermosetting matrix resin is not less than 2.9 GPa.

3. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1, wherein glass transition temperature of the thermosetting matrix resin is not less than 90 degrees Celsius.

4. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing fibers are carbon fibers.

5. A fiber reinforced composite material which further comprises a transparent resin layer on an outside surface of a fiber reinforced composite material of claim 1.

6. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 5, which has a color difference Δ

E*ab of not more than 4 in a 1500-hour weatherometer test by a sunshine carbon arc light.

7. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 5, having an average-of-roughness-height Ra in roughness measurement of a designed surface from 0.05 to 2.0 micrometers.

8. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 5, having a maximum height Ry in roughness measurement of a designed surface from 0.1 to 5.0 micrometers.

9. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 5, having an image clarity index NSIC of a designed surface from 30 to 80 percents.

10. A fiber reinforced composite material according to claim 5, having a pencil hardness of a designed surface being F or above.

11. A vehicle member comprising a fiber reinforced composite material of claim 5.

12. A sporting goods member comprising a fiber reinforced composite material of claim 1.