ACETYLACETONATES OF NICKEL(II) AND COPPER(II) AS ACCELERATORS FOR THEEPOXY-RESIN SYSTEM

The acetylacetonates of nickel(II) and copper(II) serve as accelerator s for the anhydride-curable epoxy resin system. An appreciable lowerin g in the cure gel time and a substantial increase in the rate of curin g is observed with enhanced concentrations of the metal chelates. Cure kinetic studies and cure schedules have been followed using a differe ntial scanning calorimeter. The thermal and electrical insulation char acteristics of the cured epoxy system are little affected by the varia tion of temperature, voltage, and aging under UV radiation. (C) 1994 J ohn Wiley & Sons, Inc.