Fast-curing epoxy systems

1. A low-alkyl phenol composition comprising:

a) an epoxy resin,

b) a cyclic amine having at least two secondary cyclic amino groups belonging to the same cycle of the cyclic amine,

c) a salt of a Brønsted acid,

d) a diamine or polyamine, which is not a cyclic amine having at least two secondary cyclic amino groups belonging to the same cycle of the cyclic amine, and

e) optional auxiliaries and/or additives;

wherein a) is present in an amount of from 30 to 95 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition;

wherein b) is present in an amount of from 1 to 50 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, and is selected from the group consisting of 1H-octahydroimidazo[4,5-c]pyridine, 1,4,8-triazaspiro[4.5]decane, 1,4-diazaspiro[4.5]decane, pyrazolidine, 2,2-dimethylimidazolidine, 1,4,7-triazacyclononane, hexahydropyridazine, tetradecahydrophenazine, decahydroquinoxaline, octahydro-1H-cyclopentapyrazine, piperazine, 2-methylpiperazine, 2,2-dimethylpiperazine, 2,3-dimethylpiperazine, 2-ethylpiperazine, 2,5-dimethylpiperazine, 2,6-dimethylpiperazine, 2,3,5,6-tetramethylpiperazine, 2,3,5-trimethylpiperazine, 2-(2-piperidinyl)piperazine, homopiperazine, 2-methylhomopiperazine, and 6-methyl-1,4-diazepane;

wherein c) is present in an amount of from 0.001 to 5 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition, the Brønsted acid of the salt has a pKa of from 2 to −9, and the counterion of the salt is selected from a metal ion, a metal-containing ion, a phosphonium ion, and a NH 4 ion;

wherein d) is present in an amount such that b) accounts for at least 70 wt % of the combined weight of b) and d) in the composition;

wherein e) are optionally present in an amount of up to 48 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition; and

wherein alkylphenols are present in an amount of not more than 10% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

2. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 , wherein

the epoxy resin a) is selected from the group consisting of bisphenol A diglycidyl ether, bisphenol F diglycidyl ether, 4,4′-methylenebis[N,N-bis(2,3-epoxypropyl)aniline], hexanediol diglycidyl ether, butanediol diglycidyl ether, trimethylolpropane triglycidyl ether, propane-1,2,3-triol triglycidyl ether, pentaerythritol tetraglycidyl ether and diglycidyl hexahydrophthalate; and wherein alkylphenols are present in an amount of not more than 9% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

3. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 2 , wherein

alkylphenols are present in an amount of not more than 7% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

4. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 3 , wherein

alkylphenols are present in an amount of not more than 5% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

5. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 , wherein

alkylphenols are present in an amount of not more than 8% by weight, based on the total weight of the composition.

6. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 , wherein

the counterion of the salt of a Brønsted acid c) is selected from an alkaline earth metal ion, lithium ion, zirconium ion, phosphonium ion, and a NH 4 ion, and wherein alkylphenols are not present in the composition.

7. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 , wherein the Brønsted acid of the salt of a Brønsted acid c) is selected from oxalic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, tetrafluoroboric acid, nitric acid, sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid, and hydrobromic acid.

8. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 , wherein

the optional auxiliaries and/or additives e) are present in an amount of up to 48 wt %, based on the total weight of the composition.

9. The low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 8 , wherein

the diamine or the polyamine d) is selected from the group consisting of

aliphatic diamines or polyamines,

oxyalkylenepolyamines,

cycloaliphatic diamines or polyamines,

diamines or polyamines having a cyclic amino group and at least one acyclic primary or secondary amino group,

araliphatic diamines or polyamines,

aromatic diamines or polyamines,

adduct hardeners of diamines or polyamines,

polyamidoamine hardeners,

Mannich base hardeners of diamines or polyamines, and

Mannich bases of diamines or polyamines.

10. A process for producing a low-alkyl phenol composition according to claim 1 ,

wherein the a), b), c), d) and optionally e) are mixed with one another.

11. A composite comprising the low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 .

12. A casting resin comprising the low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 .

13. A coating composition comprising the composition according to claim 1 .

14. An adhesive comprising the low-alkylphenol composition according to claim 1 .