CLEAVABLE EPOXY-RESINS - DESIGN FOR DISASSEMBLY OF A THERMOSET

A series of cycloaliphatic diepoxides with cleavable acetal links were synthesized and characterized. These materials were shown to undergo thermosetting reactions with cyclic anhydride in very similar fashion to a commercial cycloaliphatic epoxide, but cured samples were easily dissolved in a variety of acid-containing solvent mixtures. Such mater ials can extend the utility of thermosetting epoxies by preserving the ir positive attributes while eliminating their well known intractabili ty after curing. The latter property is particularly a problem for man ufacturers designing products for disassembly at end of use in order t o facilitate recycling. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.