Molding compositions and their use
A thermoplastic glass fibers reinforced molding composition that exhibits improved mechanical properties and resistance to hydrolysis is disclosed. The composition contains at least one thermoplastic polymer, sized glass fibers, and optional conventional additives and auxiliary substances. The sizing agent that is substantially free of emulsifiers not bound to the resin contains (a) at least one epoxide-functional, oligomeric resin, having epoxide group content of 0.15 to 0.75 mole per 100 g of resin, average functionality of at least 2.3 epoxide groups per molecule, (b) at least one epoxide curing agents, and (c) at least one silane coupling agent.
1 . A thermoplastic molding composition, comprising:
A) 100 parts by weight of at least one thermoplastic polymer,
B) 5 to 250 parts by weight of sized glass fibers, and
C) 0 to 30 parts by weight of conventional additives and auxiliary substances,
wherein the glass fibers include a sizing agent comprising a) one or more epoxide-functional, oligomeric resins, that
(i) have a content of epoxide groups of 0.15 to 0.75 mole per 100 g of epoxide-functional, oligomeric resin,
(ii) have on average a functionality of at least 2.3 epoxide groups per molecule, and
(iii) are substantially free of emulsifiers not bound to the resin,
b) one or more water-dispersible or water-soluble epoxide curing agents,
c) one or more silanes coupling agents,
d) optionally at least one film-forming resin, auxiliary substances and additives.
2 . The molding composition according to claim 1 , wherein component a) is present in an amount of 40 to 95% relative to the total weight of components a) to d).
3 . The molding composition according to claim 1 , wherein component b) is present in an amount calculated to render the molar ratio of the reactive groups of b) to the epoxide groups of a) as 1:100 to 35:100.
4 . The molding composition according to claim 1 , wherein component c) is present in an amount of 1 to 40% relative to the total weight of components a) to d).
5 . The molding composition according to claim 1 , wherein at least one epoxide curing agent is an amine.
6 . The molding composition according to claim 5 , wherein the amine is hexamethylenediamine.
7 . A molded article comprising the composition of claim 1.