ABSTRACT

The precursors of thermosetting polymers are usually one of the ingredients of complex formulations. They may be present in very small amounts, as in the manufacture of abrasive disks where the thermoset acts as an agglutinant; in medium amounts, as in the case of filler-reinforced thermosets; or as the only components, in formulations used for encapsulation purposes. Apart from fillers, fibers, pigments, etc., some formulations contain rubber or thermoplastic modifiers that phase-separate upon the polymerization reaction (cure).