Nobuyuki Odagiri

US Patent:

7208228, Apr 24, 2007

Filed:

Apr 23, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/420776

Inventors:

James E. Brown - Puyallup WA, US
Norimitsu Natsume - Kent WA, US
Nobuyuki Odagiri - Renton WA, US
Jeffrey J. Hawkey - Tacoma WA, US
Brian S. Hayes - Ludington MI, US

Assignee:

Toray Composites (America), Inc. - Tacoma WA

International Classification:

B32B 27/38
B32B 27/04
B32B 27/18
C08L 63/00

US Classification:

428413, 4282974, 523400, 525523, 525524, 525529

Abstract:

An epoxy resin composition for a cured material, comprising (A) an epoxy resin comprising an epoxy compound X, the epoxy compound X has an epoxy equivalent weight of at least 400, (B) a curing agent, and (C) a liquid rubber that is liquid at room temperature and comprises a reactive group; wherein the epoxy compound X has a solubility parameter value of SpX, the liquid rubber has a solubility parameter value of SpY and the ratio of SpY/SpX could be in the range of 0. 7 to 1. 3; and wherein the liquid rubber could form no visible domains by optical microscopy or has a maximum domain size of at most 3 microns in the cured material is described. The epoxy resin composition provides a fiber-reinforced material with higher compressive modulus and strength, toughness and better handling ability over standard epoxy resin systems. This invention is excellent for small thin walled tube structures like fishing rods or applications that require good compressive strength.