Hycat™ AC-4

• Like 3100S, Hycat™ AC-4 has unique low temperature and latency characteristics that allow formulators to reconsider the use of anhydrides where previously high initial curing temperatures coupled with the use of rapid cure catalysts such as amines or imidazoles would generate excessive internal heat that were inhibitive.
• Hycat™ AC-4 provides a more even distribution of the heat evolved from a polymer reaction leading to the production of consistently uniform cures that are free from cracks and voids. This is particularly useful in the curing of composites where materials that have been wet out with low viscosity resins require a quick gel but are sensitive to excessive exotherms which can lead to hidden internal defects in the final cure. Similarly thick parts that generate large amounts of internal heat that is difficult to dissipate will benefit greatly from the use of Hycat™ AC-4.
• Hycat™ AC-4 can be used alongside higher onset rapid cure catalysts such as imidazoles or quaternary salts to take full advantage of Hycat™ AC-4’s low onset capabilities and unique latency to get your reaction going at lower temperatures and then hit it with the heat to finish quickly and tailor the mechanical properties of the final product. Hycat™ AC-4 is a liquid so it is easy to handle, easy to load, easy to adjust and is readily cleaned up with typical organic solvents.
• Hycat™ AC-4 accelerates materials with monomeric, dimeric or polymeric functional groups and will perform very well in the presence of a number of popular additives and toughening agents. This provides formulators with great flexibility to meet desired cure temperatures, cure cycles, pot life, glass transition temperature and other mechanical properties. Typical catalyst loadings range from 1 to 5 phr (parts per hundred resin) however higher or lower concentrations can be used depending on the formulation and desired end result. Cured products will have a light green tint, the intensity of which is determined by catalyst loading.
• Hycat™ AC-4 is REACH and RoHS compliant and manufactured under ISO 9002 quality assurance control standards.

Hycat™ AC-4 is recommended for use in epoxy/anhydride formulations.  Most epoxy resins, including Aliphatic, Cycloaliphatic, Phenol-Type Di-and Tri-Glycidyl Ethers, Novolacs and many other epoxy resins will benefit using Hycat™ AC-4.

Hycat™ AC-4 will also accelerate the reaction of other small ring compounds such as aziridines, oxetanes and imides and promote the reaction of an epoxide with a carboxylic acid however Hycat™ 2000S and Hycat™ OA are recommended for acid systems.

Typical commercial applications include: