Binders, or tackifiers, have become widespread in the production of new composite materials by liquid composite molding (LCM) techniques due to their ability to stabilize preforms during laying-up and impregnation, as well as to improve fracture toughness of the obtained composites, which is very important in aviation, automotive, ship manufacturing, etc. Furthermore, they can be used in modern methods of automatic laying of dry fibers into preforms, which significantly reduces the labor cost of the manufacturing process. In this article, we review the existing research from the 1960s of the 20th century to the present days in the field of creation and properties of binders used to bond various layers of preforms in the manufacturing of composite materials by LCM methods to summarize and synthesize knowledge on these issues. Different binders based on epoxy, polyester, and a number of other resins compatible with the corresponding polymer matrices are considered in the article. The influence of binders on the preforming process, various properties of obtained preforms, including compaction, stability, and permeability, as well as the main characteristics of composite materials obtained by various LCM methods and the advantages and disadvantages of this technology have been also highlighted.

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT ABSTRACT Hydroxyaryloxycyclophosphazenes containing 2–4 OH groups have been synthesized by the substitution of chlorine atoms of hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene via the reaction with sodium phenolates of halogenophenols followed by the interaction with sodium monophenolate of diphenylolpropane. Oligoepoxyphosphazenes (OEPs) with molecular masses up to 2000 and the contents of epoxy groups, phosphorus, and halogens atoms about 5–8, 5–8, and 5–11%, respectively, have been obtained via the interaction of the aforementioned phosphazenes with epichlorohydrin. The curing of the OEPs with amines or acid anhydrides gives rise to the formation of self-extinguishing composites. The incorporation of the OEPs (5–75 wt %) into commercial epoxy resins followed by their curing, results in the formation of composites with excellent nonflammability or capability of self-quenching, and good dielectric, heat resistant and mechanical properties. It has been established that mixtures of common epoxides with different amounts of the OEPs can be synthesized by a “single-reactor” method.

By partial substitution of the chlorine atoms in hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene for halophenols and subsequent reaction of the resulting halogenated phenoxy phosphazene and...

The flame resistance of epoxy compositions based on resin D.E.R.-330, isomethyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride, and new epoxy-containing aryloxycyclotriphosphazenes according to GOST (State...

The method of optical wedge revealed that the optimum temperature for compatibility of hexakis(4-acetamidophenoxy)cyclotriphosphazene (ACP) and DER-331 epoxy resin is in the range of 220–260 °C. The interdiffusion time of components at these temperatures is about 30 min. The TGA and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) methods revealed the curing temperature of 280 °С for this composition. IR spectroscopy confirmed that the reaction between the resin and ACP is completed within 10 min. According to the DSC data, a glass transition temperature of 130 °С was estimated for the cured resin. Combustion test UL-94 demonstrated that the obtained material can be assigned to the fireproof category of V-0. Burning droplets were not formed during the burning. The coke formed during the combustion of samples possessed a dense and porous structure. The shape of pores is closed, while their size is in the range of 0.2–200 µm.

A method for the synthesis of an amine-containing epoxy resin curing agent by dissolving hexakis-[(4-formyl)phenoxy]cyclotriphosphazene in an excess of isophoronediamine was developed. The curing agent was characterized via NMR and IR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, and its rheological characteristics were studied. Compositions based on DER-354 epoxy resin and the synthesized curing agent with different amounts of phosphazene content were obtained. The rheological characteristics of these compositions were studied, followed by their curing. An improvement in several thermal (DSC), mechanical (compression, tension, and adhesion), and physicochemical (water absorption and water solubility) characteristics, as well as the fire resistance of the obtained materials modified with phosphazene, was observed, compared with unmodified samples. In particular, there was an improvement in adhesive characteristics and fire resistance. Thus, compositions based on a curing agent containing a 30% modifier were shown to fulfill the V-1 fire resistance category. The developed compositions can be processed by contact molding, winding, and resin transfer molding (RTM), and the resulting material is suitable for use in aircraft, automotive products, design applications, and home repairs.