Thioplast™ EPS

Liquid Polysulfide Polymers with reactive Epoxy-end groups

Technical product information

January 2014

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 1

 Technical product information

Thioplast™ EPS Resins

Epoxy-terminated Liquid Polysulfides

Introduction

AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals GmbH in Greiz, Germany, is the leading manufacturer of

liquid Polysulfide polymers with the trade name ThioplastTM G.

Thioplast™ EPS resins are epoxy-terminated, low-viscosity liquid polysulfide polymers derived
from the SH-terminated polysulfide polymer ThioplastTM G. Thioplast™ EPS resins are telechelic
polymers with outstanding properties which combine the flexibility of conventional ThioplastTM G
liquid polysulfide polymers with the toughness of standard Bisphenol A/F-Epoxy based resins.

Thioplast™ EPS resins can be used in formulations together with other epoxy-resins to increase
flexibility, adhesion, aging and weathering and to improve chemical resistance.

Thioplast™ EPS resins have been specifically developed for use in high performance coatings,
sealants and adhesives formulations for both interior and exterior use.

AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals offers two types of epoxy-functionalized liquid polysulfide

polymers: aromatic and aliphatic Thioplast™ EPS resins that exhibit different physicochemical
properties and behavior. Both types are particularly well suited for heavy-duty surface
applications on metal and concrete.

The major advantage of Thioplast™ EPS resins compared to other polymer types is their
remarkable flexibility and superior chemical resistance. Plus, formulators enjoy these
performance characteristics from polysulfide polymers without having to deal with any annoying
thiol odor. Furthermore Thioplast™ EPS resins are cured with common epoxy amine hardeners.
There is no need to use curing agents containing heavy metals.

Permeability to water vapor is lower than found with pure aromatic epoxy resins. That makes
Thioplast™ EPS resins particularly suited for coating applications on steel and concrete.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 2

Moreover, Thioplast™ EPS resins show unique self-repair and crack-bridging behavior.
Aliphatic Thioplast™ EPS resins are also excellent reactive diluents which can act as a high
potential flexibilizer in classical Bisphenol A/F Epoxy-formulations.

Properties

The combination of a primary polysulfide structure in the polymer backbone and epoxy
termination leads to a unique class of polymers which can be employed either as a single
component or in combination with commercial aromatic glycidyl ether resins and other
epoxies.

Thioplast™ EPS resins exhibit a number of remarkable properties:

rapid curing at ambient temperature

good adhesion on many materials
adjustable flexibility
high impact resistance
chemical resistance to a number of diluted acids, alkalis and organic solvents
efficient self-healing characteristic

The combination of liquid polysulfide and epoxy resins yields telechelic polymers showing
superior properties. In addition to excellent chemical resistance and good adhesion these
hybrids can be cured with a wide range of curing agents.

The following table displays which Thioplast™ EPS type is best for which application

Type Coatings Paints Adhesives Sealants

EPS 25 +++ ++ + ++
EPS 70 +++ ++ ++ +++
EPS 80* +++ ++ ++ +++

EPS 350 ++ +++ +++

*) US market only, because of TSCA-regulation

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 3

Chemical Structure

The polymer’s structure is dominated by the polysulfide backbone with SS- and formal groups
and highly reactive epoxy-end groups.

O
S S O O R
R O O S S
n O

R= -CH2- or DGEBA/F

Synthesis

There are basically two routes of generating epoxy functionalized Polysulfide: reaction with
epichlorohydrin or with di-glycidyl ethers based on Bisphenol A/F.

1. Aliphatic Type (Thioplast EPS 25)

HS S S SH
O O O O n

n = 5 - 10

O
Cl NaO H

O O
S S S S
O O O O n

The synthesis route starts with the direct interaction of a low viscosity Thioplast™ G polymer
and epichlorhydrin at high pH, NaOH-based environment. The resulting polymer is strictly
aliphatic and depending on the Thioplast™ G polymer used already pre-branched.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 4

2. Aromatic Type (Thioplast™ EPS 70, Thioplast™ EPS 80 and Thioplast™ EPS 350)

HS S S SH
O O O O n

n=5

OH
O O
O O O O
m

OH OH
O O
O O S S S S O O
m O O O O n m

The synthesis of the aromatic Thioplast™ EPS 70, Thioplast™ EPS 80 or Thioplast™ EPS
350 takes place by interaction of a low viscosity Thioplast™ G polymer and Bisphenol-A/F-
Diglycidylether (DGEBA/F) forming a DGEBA/F functionalized polysulfide based polymer.

Curing of Thioplast™ EPS resins

As a rule, epoxydized polysulfide are formulated as two component systems and are cured at
ambient temperature in the presence of a catalyst.

For example, component A could contain the Epoxy- or Thioplast™ EPS resins compound and
component B could contain a compound with active hydrogen and a catalyst.

Preferred catalysts for curing Thioplast™ EPS resins are amines:

aliphatic amines
cycloaliphatic amines
amidoamines
aromatic amines
polyamides

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 5

Curing occurs via the mechanism of a stoichiometric polyaddition reaction following the opening
of the oxiran ring.

Compounds with active hydrogen are:

polysulfides, polythioles
primary or secondary amines (no additional catalysts necessary)
polyols

Different Thioplast™ EPS Types

The possibility to use the whole range of Thioplast™ G liquid polysulfides as a polymer
backbone allows a great variability in viscosity and degree of pre-branching of the resulting
Thioplast™ EPS resins.

Thioplast™ EPS 25 is purely an aliphatic epoxy generated by reacting Thioplast™ G with

epichlorohydrin.

Chemical reaction with aromatic glycidylether derivatives with Thioplast™ G leads to

formation of Thioplast™ EPS 70, Thioplast™ EPS 80 and Thioplast™ EPS 350 types with
higher viscosity.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 6

Type / Characteristic EPS 25 EPS 70 EPS 80* EPS 350

Viscosity [Pas @ 20°C] 2-3 5-10 5-10 25-35

Degree of branching [mol%] 2 0 0 0

Polymer structure Aliphatic Aromatic / Aliphatic

Density [g/ml @ 20°C] 1.27 1.20 1.20 1.23

Oxygen content [weight-%] 2.1-2.9 4.6-5.6 4.6-5.6 4.5-5.5
Epoxy-equivalent 600-670 280-350 280-350 290-360
weight [g/Eq]

Appearance Clear amber

*) US market only, because of TSCA-regulation

The most important application areas for ThioplastTM EPS resins come as a consequence of its
four basic properties:

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 7

Relevant fields of application of ThioplastTM EPS resins are:

Flexible coatings for concrete, steel and wood

Coating systems for surfaces exposed to fuels and aggressive chemicals
Reactive diluents for epoxy resins used in paints and adhesives
ThioplastTM EPS may also act as a variable flexibilizer for solvent-free and solvent-
containing coating systems resulting in high chemical resistance even in thin layers.
Suited for facilities used to store and handle substances which present high risk for
contaminating water. Polymers from ThioplastTM EPS resins can be formulated to satisfy the
German law for such facilities (“LAU-regulation”)

The following table gives an outline of possible applications of the most popular ThioplastTM
EPS resins. Needless to say the uses of ThioplastTM EPS are not restricted to those presented
in this table.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 8

Applicability of ThioplastTM EPS resins

EPS EPS EPS EPS

Application
25 70 80 * 350
Anti-Corrosive Coating or Lining
x x x x
for Concrete

Elastic, Chemical Resistant

x x x x
Buildings Flooring
Civil
Adhesives for Wet Surfaces of
Engineering
Concrete
Adhesives for Building Panels x
Adhesives
Adhesives for Metals x

Adhesives for Automobile Parts x

Anti-Corrosive Coating for
x x
Metals
Coating Chemical Resistant Coating
Lining
Impact Resistant Coating x x
Potting, Casting x

Electrical Electrical Insulator x

Electrical Components x

*) US market only, because of TSCA-regulation

1) Aromatic ThioplastTM EPS resin

The chemical structure is dominated by the polysulfide polymer chain and highly reactive epoxy
end groups. The following scheme shows the chemical structure of aromatic Thioplast™ EPS
resins. DGEB A/F is an abbreviation of Di-Glycidyl Ether of Bisphenol A/F resins.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 9

 O O

CH2 CH R' S R S R' CH CH2

R - polysulfide structure
-(CH2CH2OCH2OCH2CH2-SS)n-CH2CH2OCH2OCH2CH2-
n = 8 - 20
R' = DGEB A/F Epoxy Resins or
DGEB F Epoxy Resin

Processing properties

Viscosity and miscibility

ThioplastTM EPS resins are compatible with commercial epoxy resins. Viscosity can be easily
adjusted by altering the ratio of the resin components in the mixture.

Odor

Due to the presence of mercaptan end groups unmodified polysulfide like Thioplast™ G have a
characteristic odor. Since mercaptan end groups are absent in ThioplastTM EPS resins they lack
this unpleasant odor.

Reactive behaviour

Epoxidized polysulfides can be cured using aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic amines,
phenalkamine adducts and Mannich base type hardeners.

The addition of aromatic ThioplastTM EPS resins has only minimal effect on the reactivity of
epoxy resins. The desired properties of the system can be easily adjusted by choosing the
appropriate hardener system.

Tables 1a and 1b show examples of hardeners. Potting times were determined using
ThioplastTM EPS 70 (or ThioplastTM EPS 80) and hardener at 23°C.

With all hardeners, the resin was tack-free after 12-16 h. After seven days Shore D hardness
was between 20 and 25.

Adhesion on concrete was excellent and no difference between the various systems was noted.

Concrete breakage occurred in all adhesion tests while the ThioplastTM EPS layer remained
intact.

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Table 1a: Examples of Hardeners to cure ThioplastTM EPS 70 / ThioplastTM EPS 80

Item Chemical characteristics of H-Equivalent Potting time

Amine [g/Eq]

Polypox H 445 Modified cycloaliph. Polyamine 105 45 min

Polypox H 354 Mod. cycloaliph. Polyamine 93 35 min

Polypox H 015 Mannich base, phenol free 75 20 min

Aradur 2964 Aliphat. and cycloaliphat. 92 40 min

polyamine
Aradur 450 S Mod. polyamidoamine 115 45 min

Epilox 10 – 30 Mod. cycloaliphat. amino adduct 93 35 min

Epilox 10 – 32 Mod. cycloaliphat. polyamine 85 60 min

Epilox 10 – 38 Activated polyamine 95 30 min

Epilox 10 – 69 Amino adduct 46 30 min

Cardolite NC 566X80 Phenalkamin adduct 135 50 min

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 11

Table 1b: Examples of Hardeners to cure ThioplastTM EPS 70 / ThioplastTM EPS 80

Curing Tensile Elongation

Curing
[min] ShoreA ShoreA strength @break Water
Chemical type [min]
Hardener @ 7d@23°C/ 14d@23°C/ absorption
of hardener ´@ 1d 23 °C/50% rH. +
23°C/50 50% rH 50% rH [%] @ 23 °C
60°C 14d 60 °C
% rH 5s value 5s value After 14d
[N/mm²] [%]

Epikure 3223 Aliphatic Amine 20 100 96 92 16.58 38 2.23

Aradur 2973 Aliphatic 60, 110,
59.5 75 8.26 38 1.69
CH Polyamine gelled gelled
Aradur 2992 Aliphatic 10,
20 50.9 78 9.66 83 2.34
CH Polyamine gelled
240,
Epikure 3601 Anhydride 150 59.9 95 34.19 3 1.27
gelled
Aradur 850 Aromatic Amine 60, 180,
56.1 92 14.78 46 1.28
CH Adduct gelled gelled
Aradur 863 Aromatic Amine 240, 240,
39.5 95 20.08 21 1.49
XW 80 CA Adduct gelled gelled
Polypox Cycloaliphatic 60, 90,
60.9 88 10.59 48 1.67
060H Polyamine gelled gelled
Cycloaliphatic
Epicure 3370 25 180 78 73 6.33 89 3.03
Polyamine
Cycloaliphatic
Epicure 3383 50 240 70 70 6.49 63 1.83
Polyamine
240,
Epikure 3115 Polyamides 50 92 91 11.17 41 2.8
gelled
240,
Epikure 3140 Polyamides 35 91.5 89 15.73 48 2.37
gelled
Aradur 891 60 180,
Polyamidoamine 51.3 93 9.94 54 2.43
BD gelled gelled
240,
Epikure 3015 Polyamidoamine 35 72.5 75 3.88 62 2.74
gelled
240,
Epikure 3046 Polyamidoamine 50 83.5 88 7.62 57 2.4
gelled
Aradur 460 J Polyamidoamine 60, 180,
50.9 92 6.12 34 2.49
90 BD /Ethanol gelled gelled
Polyamine 40, 50,
Aradur 46S 53.1 72 6.51 68 1.3
Adduct gelled gelled
Jeffamine D 90, 24h,
Polyetheramines 46.5 48 3.27 78 2.69
230 gelled gelled
Jeffamine D 240, 24h,
Polyetheramines 39.9 53 1.15 36 3.08
400 gelled gelled

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 12

Table 2a: Co-reactant or hardeners of ThioplastTM EPS and their effect on
coating performance and characteristic

Features (Co-reactants and hardeners rated top to bottom from best to least suited)

Film Chemical Resistance

Flexibility Adhesion Acids Solvents Water

Best Best Best Best Best

Polyamide Polyamide Aromatic amine Aliphatic amine Polyamide

Cycloaliphatic Aliphatic amine

Amidoamine Phenalkamine Phenalkamine
amine adducts

Cycloaliphatic
Phenalkamine Amidoamine Aliphatic amine Amidoamine
amine

Cycloaliphatic Cycloaliphatic Aliphatic amine Cycloaliphatic

Aromatic amine
amine amine adducts amine

Aromatic amine Aliphatic amine Amidoamine Polyamide Aromatic amine

Aliphatic amine Aliphatic amine

Phenalkamine Phenalkamine Aliphatic amine
adducts adducts

Aliphatic amine
Aliphatic amine Aromatic amine Polyamide Amidoamine
adducts

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 13

Table 2b: Co-reactant or hardeners of ThioplastTM EPS and their effect on
coating performance and characteristics

Features (Co-reactants and hardeners rated top to bottom from best to least suited)

Low Temp. Corrosion

Blush Resistance Color Stability Viscosity
Application Restistance

Best Best Best Best Best

Cycloaliphatic
Polyamide Polyamide Phenalkamine Polyamide
amine

Phenalkamine Amidoamine Aliphatic amine Amidoamine Aliphatic amine

Cycloaliphatic Aliphatic amine

Amidoamine Phenalkamine Amidoamine
amine adducts

Cycloaliphatic Aliphatic amine Cycloaliphatic Cycloaliphatic

Aromatic amine
amine adducts amine amine
Aliphatic amine Aliphatic amine
Aromatic amine Aliphatic amine Polyamide
adducts adducts
Aliphatic amine
Phenalkamine Amidoamine Aromatic amine Phenalkamine
adducts

Aliphatic amine Aromatic amine Aromatic amine Aliphatic amine Polyamide

ThioplastTM EPS resin is a versatile flexibilizer in solvent free coatings and shows superb
chemical resistance even when applied in thin layers. ThioplastTM EPS polymers add flexibility
to epoxy resins and at the same time it improves the chemical resistance of the resulting coating
or adhesive.
Standard characteristics of regular, non ThioplastTM EPS modified, epoxy-systems are listed in
Table 3.

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Table 3: Standard Epoxy-coating comparison chart

Amidoamine Epoxy Phenolics /

Amine Epoxies Polyamide Epoxies
Epoxies Novolacs

Amidoamine are
Form very hard, Polyamide epoxies
reaction products of a
adherent films with generally offer the These coatings allow
polyamine and a fatty
excellent chemical and widest latitude in a wide range
acid. Their properties
corrosion resistance. coating formulation. formulating latitude.
generally fall between
Amine cured epoxies They are considered Novolac epoxy resins
those of amines and
are often used as more resilient and increase the
polyamides. They
protective coatings and flexible, and have chemical resistance
have good water and
linings in highly better weathering and solvent
Description corrosion resistance
corrosive environments. resistance and a resistance.
Amine epoxies require like amines and good
longer pot life than Increasing the level
care in handling since toughness like
amine cured epoxies. of phenolic increases
the amines can be polyamides. They
Polyamide epoxies the chemical and
moderately irritating to have relatively low
generally have less solvent resistance,
the skin, and may cause molecular weights and
solvent and acid but the coating loses
allergic reactions. low viscosities making
resistance than amine flexibility.
them very good
cured epoxies.
surface wetters

-Excellent alkali and -Very good alkali and

water resistance water resistance
-Excellent surface -High heat resistance
-Very good acid -Good acid resistance
wetting -Excellent chemical
resistance -Longer pot life than
-Excellent adhesion resistance
-Excellent solvent amines
-Excellent water -Excellent solvent
resistance -Easy to apply
Advantages resistance resistance
-Hard, abrasion -Cures more quickly
-Low viscosity -Excellent corrosion
resistant film than amines
Longer pot life than resistance
-Excellent corrosion -Good weathering
amines -Hard, abrasion
resistance characteristics
-Good gloss retention resistant film
-Excellent wetting of -Good film flexibility
substrate Excellent adhesion

-Amines can be
-Amines can be
irritating/toxic
irritating/toxic
-Relatively short
-Relatively short recoat -Slow cure -Slow cure
Disadvantages recoat time
time -Fair color retention -Fair color retention
and -Relatively short pot
-Relatively short pot life -Temperature -Temperature
Limitations life
-Slower dry than dependent dependent
-Slower dry than
normal polyamides
normal polyamides
-Chalks/may discolor
-Chalks/may discolor

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 15

Properties of final product

The properties reported in Table 4 refer to mixtures of ThioplastTM EPS 70 and a Bisphenol A/F-
resin Epilox T 19-27. A cycloaliphatic hardener, Aradur 2964, was used for curing.

Table 4: Properties of ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS blends and a Bisphenol A/F-resin

(Hardener: Aradur 2964)

Epilox 19-27 [wt %] 0 20 40 60 80 100

EPS 70 / EPS 80 [wt %] 100 80 60 40 20 0

Viscosity [Pa*s] 8.7 8.2 7.8 7.5 7.3 7.2

Mixing ratio
Resin : hardener 100:29.7 100:33.9 100:38.2 100:42.5 100:46.7 100:51

Potting time [min] 40 40 40 37 35 30

Shore D 22 35 55 63 70 75

Max. elongation
80 65 40 6 2 None
after 28 d [%]

Adhesion

Adhesion of ThioplastTM EPS resins to concrete, glass and steel is better than of unmodified
polysulfides.

Thermal shock resistance

ThioplastTM EPS resins tolerate thermal stress between – 55° C and 120 °C very well.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 16

Weathering stability

Cured resin systems show very good resistance to weathering. Weathering resistance was
determined by irradiating with Xenon arc light over a period of 500 h. With increasing
ThioplastTM EPS resin content, the degree of yellowing and surface degradation is reduced.
Pure ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 gives the best results and pure Bisphenol A/F resin the worst.
Shore D hardness is hardly affected. (Table 5)

Table 5: Weathering stability of pure ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 and blends with a
Bisphenol A/F-resin

Epilox 19-27 (%) 0 20 40 60 80 100

EPS 70 / EPS 80 (%) 100 80 60 40 20 0

Shore D before weathering 22 35 55 63 70 75

Shore D following weathering

24 42 58 65 74 78

Flexibility

Elasticity and flexibility of cured ThioplastTM EPS resin is more than six times higher than that of
pure aromatic epoxies based on Bisphenol-A/F-resin. (Figure 1)

Addition of ThioplastTM EPS resin to Bisphenol-A/F-resins increases impact resistance. Starting

from very hard, non flexible epoxies one can produce coatings with low or high flexibility by
varying the proportions of ThioplastTM EPS resins. (Figure 2, 3)

Figure 1: Increasing of elongation of cured Epoxy-resin by adding ThioplastTM EPS

120
100
80
Elongation [%]

60
40
20
0
100 90 80 70 60 50 40
Addition of ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 [%)]

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 17

Figure 2: Shore D hardness after addition of ThioplastTM EPS 70/80/350 to Bisphenol A/F
Epoxy resins

90
80
EPS 70
70
Shore D hardness

EPS 350
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100
Addition of aromat. ThioplastTM EPS [%)]

Figure 3: Change in Shore D hardness by adding ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 or EPS

350 to Bisphenol A/F resins using different hardeners

90
Polypox H 015
80
Aradur 2964
70 Polypox 354
60 Polypox 445
Shore D hardness

50
40
30
20
10
0
0 20 40 60 80 100

ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 content [%]

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 18

Impact resistance

It is possible to formulate very flexible epoxy coatings with simultaneous high hardness by using
55% ThioplastTM EPS resin. Impact strength increases to levels several times higher than before.
Chemicals and mechanical properties meet the highest demands.

Good heat stability

The thermal degradation behavior of ThioplastTM EPS 350/70/80 resins and their formulations is
very similar to that of conventional epoxy resins (Figure 4).

Figure 4: Thermogravimetric measurement of degradation of ThioplastTM EPS 350 and

EPS 70 / EPS 80 and Bisphenol A/F resin

120

100 A/F-resin
EPS 70
80
Weight [%]

60

40

20

0
0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Temperature [°C]

Self repair capability

Intramolecular exchange of the S-S-bonds, as represented in Figure 5, leads to a continuous

rearrangement of these chemical bonds. This is the explanation for the excellent self-repair
capabilities observed for cured ThioplastTM EPS resins.

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Figure 5: Intramolecular exchange of the S-S-bonds in ThioplastTM EPS resins as reason
for the excellent self-repair capabilities

S-S

S-S

S S
S S

To measure that self-repair capability, tensile testing experiments were performed to quantify the
recovery of strength. Representative stress - strain curves for the original material are plotted in
Figure 6A, showing that the elongation at break is approx. 65 ± 5%.

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Figure 6: Strain – Stress curves to quantify the intramolecular exchange of the S-S-
bonds in ThioplastTM EPS resins

Reference: Macromolecules 2011, 44, 2536–2541

When a sample breaks during the tensile test and the fractures are immediately put into as close
as possible contact and heated at 60 °C, the mechanical properties are fully restored in just 1 h
(Figure 6B).

As expected, longer healing times lead to better healing, but even when the contact time
between the two broken sections is as short as 15 min, a repaired sample shows an elongation at
break close to 40%. Surprisingly, for all healing times, the stress - strain curves superimpose and
show only different elongations at break, indicating that the healed samples have similar elastic
properties as the original material.

This material can be healed efficiently multiple times, and the mechanical properties after the
second and third healing process are, within experimental error, fully restored, i.e., elongation at
break of 63 ± 5%, and no systematic decrease for consecutive breaking—healing cycles (Figure
6C).

Figure 7 shows the influence of the disulfide concentration on the self-healing properties of
ThioplastTM EPS / Bishenol A/F resin blends using different ratios of epoxy resins, one free of
disulfide groups (DER732) and another containing disulfide groups in its structure (ThioplastTM EPS
25).

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 21

Figure 7: Recovery of strength (%) of healed samples with different concentrations of disulfide
groups

Reference: Macromolecules 2011, 44, 2536–2541

ThioplastTM EPS 25 / Bishenol A/F resin blends with different content of disulfide

Sample 1: 20 wt %;
Sample 2: 15 wt %;
Sample 3: 10 wt %;
Sample 4: 5 wt %;
Sample 5: 0 wt % disulfide.

Chemical resistance

Cured ThioplastTM EPS resin systems show outstanding resistance towards various chemical
and corrosive attacks. They withstand a wide range of chemical substances: water, diluted
acids, alkalies, esters, ketones, mineral oils and other hydrocarbons.

The resistance of ThioplastTM EPS to organic solvents and organic acids is better than that of
epoxy resins.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 22

Table 6: Chemical resistance of ThioplastTM EPS

Substance Resistance Substance Resistance

Acetone + Fuel oil ++

Formic acid conc. Isopropanol ++

Potassium hydroxide
Formic acid 10% +/D ++
sat.sol.

Ammonium hydroxide 32 % ++ Methanol ++

Gasoline ++ Sodium hydroxide sat.sol. ++

Benzene + Phosphoric acid conc. +/ D

Diesel „Bio“-fuel ++ Nitric acid half conc. ++

Calciumhydroxide sat.sol. ++ Nitric acid conc.

Diesel fuel ++ Nitric acid 10 % +/ D

Diethyl ether ++ Hydrochloric acid conc. +/ D

Dichloro methane 0 Hydrochloric acid 10% +/ D

Acetic acid conc. Sulfuric acid conc.

Acetic acid half conc. + Sulfuric acid half conc. +/ D

Acetic acid 10% ++ Deicing salt ++

Ethanol ++ Toluene ++

Formaldehyde ++ Xylene ++

++ resistant for 14 d - not resistant

+ resistant for 72 h D discolouring
0 resistant for 8 h
Specimens have been cured with a hardener based on a cyclo-aliphatic amine.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 23

Table 7: Chemical resistance of EPS compared to unmodified epoxy resin (EP)

days 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

Acetone EPS
EP
Toluene EPS
EP
Methanol EPS
EP
Diesel EPS
fuel EP
Benzene EPS
EP
Acetic EPS
acid 10%
EP
Nitric EPS
acid 20% EP
NaOH EPS
50% EP
NH3 32% EPS
EP

Bbb - no alterations observed

Bbtt - visible and tangible surface alterations
Samples have been completely immersed into the solvent

2) Aliphatic ThioplastTM EPS resin

The aliphatic ThioplastTM EPS 25 has been developed to be used as reactive and flexibilizing
diluents for epoxy resins and for the aromatic epoxidized polysulfides ThioplastTM EPS 70, EPS
80 and EPS 350.

The chemical structure is dominated by the polysulfide polymer chain and high reactive epoxy
end groups based on epichlorhydrin. The following scheme shows the chemical structure of
aliphatic Thioplast™ EPS resins.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 24

 O O

CH2 CH CH2 S R S CH2 CH CH2

R - polysulfide structure
-(CH2CH2OCH2OCH2CH2-SS)n-CH2CH2OCH2OCH2CH2-
n = 8 - 20

Processing properties

Viscosity reduction

The very low viscosity of ThioplastTM EPS 25 allows for easy handling at low temperatures.
ThioplastTM EPS 25 works as a reactive thinner of ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 -resins as well
as in blends with Bisphenol-A/F epoxy based resins. Figure 8 illustrates the dependence of
resin viscosity on the ThioplastTM EPS 25 content at 25°C.

Figure 8: Relationship between viscosity and ThioplastTM EPS 25 content in Bisphenol

A/F resins and ThioplastTM EPS 70 / EPS 80 at 25°C.

9000
8000 A/F-Resins
7000 EPS 70
Viscosity [mPa s]

6000
5000
4000
3000
2000
1000
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
ThioplastTM EPS 25 content [%])

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 25

Properties of final products

The addition of ThioplastTM EPS 25 to regular Bisphenol A/F Epoxy resins results in highly
flexible epoxies used in

high-quality sealants
adhesives
highly elastic, chemically resistant coatings
Formulations with high ThioplastTM EPS content are easy to process. Mixtures consisting of
aromatic and aliphatic ThioplastTM EPS result in extremely flexible, soft products.

Figure 9: Relationship between Shore D hardness and ThioplastTM EPS 25 content in

Bisphenol A/F-Resins and aromatic ThioplastTM EPS.

90
A/F-Resins
80
EPS 70
70 EPS 350
Shore D hardness

60
50
40
30
20
10
0
0 10 20 30 40 50

ThioplastTM EPS 25 content [%]

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 26

Table 8: Examples of Hardeners to cure ThioplastTM EPS 25

ShoreA Tensile strength Elongation@break Water absorption

Chemical type of
Hardener 7d @
hardener 1d 23°C/50% rH. + 14d 60 °C
23°C/50% rH [%] @ 23 °C
5s value [N/mm²] [%] 7d 14d 21d
Epikure 3223 Aliphatic Amine 25 0.32 18.75 1.26 1.34 1.46
Aradur 2973 CH Aliphatic Polyamine 22 0.19 19.34 1.37 1.5 1.63
Aradur 2992 CH Aliphatic Polyamine 10 0.31 21.92 1.48 1.58 1.68
Epikure 3601 Anhydride 13
Aradur 850 CH Aromatic Amine Adduct gel, sticky
Aradur 863 XW 80 CA Aromatic Amine Adduct gel, sticky
Cycloaliphatic
Polypox 060H gel, sticky
Polyamine
Epikure 3115 Polyamides gel, sticky
Epikure 3140 Polyamides gel, sticky
Aradur 891 BD Polyamidoamine 12 0.29 20.28 1.15 1.27 1.53
Epikure 3015 Polyamidoamine gel, sticky
Epikure 3046 Polyamidoamine 20 0.22 15 1.05 1.08 1.12
Polyamidoamine/
Aradur 460 J 90 BD gel, sticky
Ethanol
Aradur 46S Polyamine Adduct 19 0.40 24.4 1.53 1.52 1.64
Jeffamine D 230 Polyetheramines gel, sticky 0.24 25.75 1.77 1.81 2.04
Jeffamine D 400 Polyetheramines gel, sticky 0.28 23.53 2.08 2.16 2.21

Typical Application

Standard formulations using ThioplastTM EPS 70

ThioplastTM EPS 70 works as a versatile flexibilizer for solvent free coatings showing superb
chemical resistance even when applied in thin layers. ThioplastTM EPS adds flexibility to epoxy
resins and at the same time improves the chemical resistance of the resulting product.
Varying the ratio of ThioplastTM EPS to epoxy resin (by weight) allows for adjustment of
properties according to specific needs of a particular application.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 27

Table 9: Standard formulations for Thioplast™ EPS 70 or Thioplast™ EPS 80

Formulation 1 Formulation 2 Formulation 3

green sample blue sample yellow sample

Thioplast™ EPS 70 / 80 35 55 75

Bisphenol A/F resin* 40 20 -

Novarez LA 300** 5 5 5
Filler*** 15 15 15
Pigment 5 5 5
Total component A 100 100 100
Component B
31 27 22
Aradur 2964
or Polypox H 015 25 22 18

Potting time @23 °C [min] 30 32 35

Max. elongation[%] 4 10 70

Shore D @ 21d 60 39 22
Strength @ break [N/mm2] 34 11.8 5.5

*A/F resin: Epoxy equivalent approx.180g/equiv.; Viscosity: 6000 – 8000 mPa.s. Also pure Bisphenol A-
resins may be used.

**Instead of Novares LA 300 reactive diluents, benzyl-alcohol or other diluents suited for Epoxy resins may be used.
When using such diluents check for adhesion decrease.
*** Chalk, talc, quartz powder, kaolin, barite or titanium dioxide may be used as fillers. Note that hardness and
elongation may change depending on the filler used. For the standard formulations shown here a mixture of talc AT1
and quartz powder W 8 was used. Talc, barite and kaolin are recommended for producing coatings with high
chemical resistance.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 28

Figure 10: Variation of elongation and Shore D hardness with Thioplast™ EPS 70 /
EPS 80 content in standard formulation

80
70
60
50
40
30 Max. elongation in %
20
Shore D after 21d
10
0
0 20 40 60 80
Thioplast™ EPS 70 / EPS 80 [%]

The elongation of the resulting polymer increases rapidly at a Thioplast™ EPS 70 / EPS 80
content between 55 and 80%. Shore D hardness declines almost linearly in the same interval.

Adhesion testing
Adhesion on concrete surfaces was tested according to DIN.ISO 4624 and DIN EN 1348 using
an adhesion testing device (HZP12D1). The result was cohesive breakage of concrete in all
cases (Picture 1)

Picture 1:

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 29

Crack bridging

Values for crack bridging have been determined according to DIN 28052-6. The widening of
crack occurred at a speed of 0.02 mm/min.

For all three formulations crack bridging of at least 0.3 mm could be demonstrated (21°C, 1 mm
layer). At 0°C crack bridging is 0.2 mm for the green and 0.3 mm for the yellow and the blue
formulation. At –20°C we measured 0.2 mm for all samples. With thicker layers and different
layer architecture higher values for crack bridging may be reached.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 30

Typical Application

Standard formulations using ThioplastTM EPS 25

Table 10: Standard formulations for Thioplast™ EPS 25

Formulation 4 Formulation 5 Formulation 6 Formulation 7

green sample grey sample blue sample yellow sample

Component A
Thioplast™ EPS 25 10 20 30 40
Bisphenol A/F resin 65 55 45 35
Filler 20 20 20 20
Pigment 5 5 5 5
Total Component A 100 100 100 100

Component B
Aradur 2964 34.7 31.1 27.5 24

Potting time @25°C 33 35 37 42

Max. elongation 13 17 63 78
Shore D @21d 67 60 52 26
Strength @ break [N/mm2] 22 16 8 5

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 31

Figure 11: Variation of elongation and Shore D hardness with Thioplast™ EPS 25
content in standard formulations

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20 Max. elongation in %
10 Shore D after 21d
0
0 10 20 30 40 50
Thioplast™ EPS 25 [%]

The elongation and Shore D hardness are very similar to those found with Thioplast™ EPS 70.
Testing for adhesion and crack bridging gave analogous results.

Recommendations for the use of standard formulations

C) Standard formulation 1, 4 and 5

This formulation is only slightly flexibilized. It is recommendend for floor coating in facilities with
heavy traffic (trucks and fork-lift trucks – meet the German LAU regulations).

B) Standard formulation 2 and 6

A low content of Thioplast™ EPS 70 yields a formulation with low elasticity which is particularly
suited for coatings that need to have crack bridging capability. It can be used for storage and
handling areas (LAU) for substances that are water hazardous and in sewage plants involving
light traffic.
Since this formulation provides excellent barrier properties to water vapor it may be used as a
coating material for steel, titanium and PP parts (pipe coating). It is also well suited for heavy
duty coatings to be used in industrial areas like slaughterhouses, large-scale catering facilities
and laundries where frequent use of hot vapor and aggressive cleaners can be expected.

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 32

C) Standard formulation 3 and 7
Due to the high content of Thioplast™ EPS this formulation is highly elastic and is, therefore,
particularly suited for the coating of containment basins in tank farms for fuels and
chemicals, especially when high tolerance of large temperature differences and extensive
motion is expected.

References

This choice of reference projects shall illustrate the versatility of Thioplast™ EPS resins in
different applications.

Coating of shop floors

Coating of the floor in a wholesale slaughterhouse with Thioplast™ EPS was applied when
conventional EP based coatings failed due to the extreme technical demands. This floor is
subjected to wheel traffic and is cleaned frequently with steam cleaning devices and aggressive
cleaners. This application requires very good adhesion and tightness, especially at the interface
to build-in tables, supports and rails (Picture 2).

Picture 2: Picture 3:

Containment basin for oil and chemicals

The restoration of containment basins for oil tanks requires crack-bridging, chemically resistant
coatings, which in addition are insensitive against humidity diffusing from the underground. This
coating can be completed by using polysulfide based joint sealants (Picture 3).

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 33

Extreme conditions can be found in truck-wash stations and in chemical plants. The floor
coating has to withstand organic solvents, diluted alkali and acids and changes in temperatures.
It also needs to have to have anti-slip properties and to tolerate the mechanical stress caused
by traffic of heavy trucks (Picture 4).

Picture 4: Picture 5:

Heavy duty corrosion protection

Good gas tightness, very good resistance to marine climate and excellent adhesion to steel
make EPS products ideal candidates for heavy-duty corrosion protection. One example may be
the restoration of industrial shipping areas and naval ports (Picture 5).

Coatings for sewage plants and sewer

The combination of anti-fouling properties, high chemical resistance and low gas diffusion rates
suggest the use of ThioplastTM EPS for coatings of sewage plants and sewers (Picture 6).

Picture 6: Picture 7:

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 34

Marine protective coatings

ThioplastTM EPS resins are used as components for marine and protective coatings applications.
The material fulfils many specific demands of these applications due to the outstanding
properties of ThioplastTM EPS resins, e.g. very good adhesion on different surfaces, anti-fouling
(formulation dependent) properties and high chemical resistance (Picture 7).

Reference-Formulations

Basic reference formulations are available upon request. Please contact your AkzoNobel
regional representative or technical manager for additional information by an extra technical info
brochure.

Status of this information: January 2014

For actual changes and news please refer to www.thioplast.com

Technical Customer Service: Dr. Volker Burkhardt ([email protected])

AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals GmbH, D-07973 Greiz, Germany

Legal disclaimer

All information, recommendations and suggestions appearing in this literature concerning the use of the products are
based upon tests and data believed to be reliable, however, it is the user's responsibility to determine the suitability
for his own use of the products described here. Since the actual use by others is beyond the control of AkzoNobel
Functional Chemicals GmbH no guarantee expressed or implied is made by AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals GmbH
as to the effect of such use or the results to be obtained, nor does AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals GmbH assume
any liability arising out of the use by others of the products referred to herein. Nor is the information herein to be
construed as absolutely complying with existing applicable laws or government regulations. Nothing herein contained
is to be construed as permission or as a recommendation to infringe any patent. All orders accepted shall be
subjected to the standard conditions of sale of the manufacturing company, AkzoNobel Functional Chemicals GmbH

ThioplastTM EPS - Product Information - Page 35