Abstract: A curable composition including (a) at least one epoxide compound comprising: (i) at least one solid or semi-solid epoxy resin; and (ii) at least one divinylarene dioxide resin compound; and (b) at least one hardener; wherein the curable composition being cured comprises a cured thermoset product having a Tg of greater than about 120° C. A thermoset can be prepared from the above curable composition.

Abstract: Curable compositions including an epoxy resin, a hardener, and a block copolymer having a thermoset-philic block and a thermoset-phobic block, where the block copolymer is from 20 weight percent to 80 weight percent of the curable composition are described herein.

Abstract: A curable composition including (a) at least one epoxide compound comprising: (i) at least one solid or semi-solid epoxy resin; and (ii) at least one divinylarene dioxide resin compound; and (b) at least one hardener; wherein the curable composition being cured comprises a cured thermoset product having a Tg of greater than about 120° C. A thermoset can be prepared from the above curable composition.

Abstract: A monomer treatment process including treating at least one metathesis polymerizable monomer composition having a purity of less than 95 weight percent of a dicyclopentadiene monomer with an alkali metal-containing additive prior to polymerizing the metathesis polymerizable monomer composition such that the treated polymerized monomer exhibits improved properties in metathesis reactions.

Abstract: A curable epoxy adhesive composition including (a) at least one first epoxy resin; (b) at least one first diluent; (c) at least one first hardener; (d) at least a first hydrophilic filler that has a predetermined aspect ratio; (e) at least a second hydrophobic filler that is different from the first filler and that has a predetermined aspect ratio; and (f) at least a third filler that is different from the first and second fillers; wherein the third filler has a predetermined aspect ratio higher than the first filler and the second filer; and wherein the volume ratio of the third filler to the combination of the first filler and second filler is in the range of from 1:1 to 10:1 such as to minimize the thermal residual stresses of the cured product made from the curable composition.

Abstract: Curable compositions including an epoxy resin, a hardener, and a block copolymer having a thermoset-philic block and a thermoset-phobic block, where the block copolymer is from 20 weight percent to 80 weight percent of the curable composition are described herein.

Abstract: A bimodal toughening agent comprising a) a first preformed coreshell toughening agent and b) a second preformed coreshell toughening agent wherein the second preformed coreshell toughening agent has a particle size of at least two times larger than that of the first preformed coreshell toughening agent, and the use of the bimodal toughening agent in a thermosettable epoxy resin composition, is disclosed.

Abstract: A structural composite uses a block copolymer toughening agent to increase the fracture resistance (toughness) of the structural composite. The structural composite comprises (i) a carbon fiber reinforcing material and (ii) a thermosettable resin composition; wherein the thermosettable resin composition comprises (a) a thermosettable resin and (b) at least one block copolymer toughening agent.

Abstract: Epoxy composites are prepared by separately preheating an epoxy resin and a hardener; mixing the preheated epoxy resin and preheated hardener to form a hot reaction mixture and curing the hot reaction mixture in the presence of a reinforcement until the mixture cures to form a composite having a polymer phase with a glass transition temperature of at least 150° C.

Abstract: A curable flame retardant epoxy resin composition including (a) at least one flame retardant epoxy resin; (b) at least one amphiphilic block copolymer; and (c) a curing agent. Such components are present in the curable composition in the appropriate amounts and ratios such that, upon curing, the block copolymer self-assembles into a nano structure morphology, such as a worm-like micelle morphology. The resulting cured product made from the composition of the present invention has a remarkably increased high fracture resistance; and allows the use of flame retardant epoxies in applications where fracture resistance is an issue.