Coatings update: review articles on epoxy resins

Abstract

Epoxy resins have probably provided more interesting chemistry than any other polymer the paint industry uses. In this category of interesting chemistry is Russian work [World Surface Coatings Abstracts (1978) Abstract No. 1558] which describes the preparation of structurally coloured epoxy resins — i.e. of epoxy resins which are inherently coloured. The work involves condensing bisphenol A and epichlorohydrin in the presence of small amounts (0.1 to 0.5 weight per cent) of a coloured co‐monomer dye. The dye, for example, can be the glycidyl ether of alpha aminoanthroquinone. Coloured products resulted which presumably would provide coatings with intrinsic colour. Of course, this colour could be modified by extrinsic dyes and pigments. The concept of producing coloured polymers is not a new one. One approach to making black polyethylene for black film is to carry out the polymerisation of the ethylene in a fluid bed of carbon particles. The carbon particles presumably serve as a nucleus around which the polymer forms and at the same time serves to impart a black colour to the polymer particle. This technology has never been commercialised but it is certainly of interest to the paint chemist for it presents a new concept in carrying out a major objective of the paint industry — namely, to impart colour to solutions of polymers.

Citation

Americus (1983), "Coatings update: review articles on epoxy resins", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 12 No. 5, pp. 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb041908