Thermosets are being tasked with ever more duties across transportation, wind energy, construction and marine industries, particularly as advanced composites are being used more frequently to replace metal and traditional plastics due to their exceptional strength and durability for their weight, cost effectiveness, and more.

Thermoset composites contain a polymer matrix (thermoset resin) and a reinforcing fiber that makes them stronger when combined and remain in a permanent sold state after being cured. They can also contain fillers and flame retardants to reduce cost and provide fire retardancy.

Dispersants for thermosets enable lightweighting and improved fire safety, productivity and cost benefits by increasing filler and/or flame retardant content and faster wetting in advanced composites. De-aeration agents improve the mechanical strength and production cycle of thermosets by faster particle wetting, removing air bubbles and reducing surface imperfections.

Backed by decades of experience, Lubrizol is committed to advancing Solplus™ Hyperdispersant technology for thermosets to enable new formulations for advanced composites to be developed. In the transportation and construction markets, Lubrizol dispersants for thermosets enable materials that are lighter at the same strength and cost as competitive dispersants, while also allowing for increased flame retardant content. In wind energy, our additives offer the potential for more cost effective energy production larger blades to increase the energy output ratio through a shift to carbon fibers, plus a prolonged product lifetime at faster blade tip speeds. As the marine industry expects more durable coatings with unique colors, Lubrizol additives enable stronger colors and longer lasting coatings beneath the waterline.

Technologies

Technologies commonly used in thermoset applications include dispersants.

Additives for Thermosets