ISO 18280:2005

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 18280
First edition
2005-05-01

Plastics — Epoxy resins — Test methods
Plastiques — Résines époxydes — Méthodes d'essai




Reference number
ISO 18280:2005(E)
©
ISO 2005

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ISO 18280:2005(E)
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ISO 18280:2005(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . v
1 Scope. 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Description of test methods. 2
3.1 Physical properties . 2
3.1.1 Determination of the melting range . 2
3.1.2 Determination of density. 3
3.1.3 Determination of refractive index. 3
3.1.4 Determination of viscosity . 3
3.1.5 Determination of tendency to crystallize. 3
3.1.6 Determination of overall volume shrinkage .4
3.1.7 Determination of flash point . 4
3.1.8 Estimation of colour . 4
3.2 Chemical properties. 5
3.2.1 Determination of epoxy equivalent . 5
3.2.2 Determination of chlorine content . 5
3.2.3 Determination of ash . 6
3.2.4 Determination of primary, secondary and tertiary amine group nitrogen content in amine
epoxy hardeners . 6
3.2.5 Determination of free acid anhydride in hardeners and accelerators. 7
3.2.6 Non-volatile-matter content . 7

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ISO 18280:2005(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 18280 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 61, Plastics, Subcommittee SC 12, Thermosetting
materials.
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ISO 18280:2005(E)
Introduction
The purpose of this International Standard is to present an overview of ISO test methods for characterizing
epoxy resins. Those test methods that are suitable and necessary for characterizing epoxy resins prior to
polymerization are listed, along with brief explanations of the principles involved.
Because of the specificity of thermosetting resins like epoxy resins, a distinction is made between the
presentation of properties before crosslinking (characteristics which are useful for processing) and after
crosslinking (intrinsic characteristics). Procedures for determining intrinsic characteristics of crosslinked (or
cured) epoxy resins are given in ISO 3673-2.

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 18280:2005(E)

Plastics — Epoxy resins — Test methods
1 Scope
Epoxy resins are a family of synthetic resins, including products, which range from viscous liquid to high-
melting solids. The resin molecule contains as reactive sites one or more oxirane or epoxy groups, usually in
the form of a glycidyl group. The most commercially important resin is the glycidyl ether of bisphenol A,
produced by the condensation of epichlorohydrin and diphenylpropane (bisphenol A). Epoxy resins with
different characteristics are also produced commercially by reacting epichlorohydrin with other materials. To
be of use, the resins must be crosslinked with a curing agent or hardener. The choice of curing agent is of
importance in designing an epoxy resin system for a given application. The major reactive groups in the resin,
the epoxy and the hydroxyl group, react with many other groups so that many types of chemical substance
can be used as curing agents. These include acid anhydrides, aliphatic and aromatic amines and
polyaminoamides. Some curing agents will crosslink the resin at ambient temperatures while others require
the application of heat.
This International Standard provides an overview of the ISO test methods used to characterize epoxy resins.
The listed property to be determined in any given case depends on agreement between the supplier and
customer.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 1523, Determination of flash point — Closed cup equilibrium method
ISO 1675, Plastics — Liquid resins — Determination of density by the pyknometer method
ISO 2555, Plastics — Resins in the liquid state or as emulsions or dispersions — Determination of apparent
viscosity by the Brookfield Test method
ISO 2592, Determination of flash and fire points — Cleveland open cup method
ISO 3001, Plastics — Epoxy compounds — Determination of epoxy equivalent
ISO 3146:2000, Plastics — Determination of melting behaviour (melting temperature or melting range) of
semi-crystalline polymers by capillary tube and polarizing-microscope methods
ISO 3219, Plastics — Polymers/resins in the liquid state or as emulsions or dispersions — Determination of
viscosity using a rotational viscometer with defined shear rate
ISO 3251, Paints, varnishes and plastics — Determination of non-volatile-matter content
ISO 3451-1:1997, Plastics — Determination of ash — Part 1: General methods
ISO 3521, Plastics — Unsaturated polyester and epoxy resins — Determination of overall volume shrinkage
ISO 3673-2, Plastics — Epoxy resins — Part 2: Preparation of test specimens and determination of properties
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ISO 18280:2005(E)
ISO 3675, Crude petroleum and liquid petroleum products — Laboratory determination of density —
Hydrometer method
ISO 4615:1979, Plastics — Unsaturated polyesters and epoxide resins — Determination of total chlorine
content
ISO 4630-1, Clear liquids — Estimation of colour by the Gardner colour scale — Part 1: Visual method
ISO 4895, Plastics — Liquid epoxy resins — Determination of tendency to crystallize
ISO 5661, Petroleum products — Hydrocarbon liquids — Determination of refractive index
ISO 6271-1, Clear liquids — Estimation of colour by the platinum-cobalt scale — Part 1: Visual method
ISO 7327, Plastics — Hardeners and accelerators for epoxide resins — Determination of free acid in acid
anhydride
ISO 9702, Plastics — Amine epoxide hardeners — Determination of primary, secondary and tertiary amine
group nitrogen content
ISO 11357-3, Plastics — Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) — Part 3: Determination of temperature and
enthalpy of melting and crystallization
ISO 12058-1, Plastics — Determination of viscosity using a falling-ball viscometer — Part 1: Inclined-tube
method
ISO 21627-1, Plastics — Epoxy resins — Determination of chlorine content — Part 1. Inorganic chlorine
ISO 21627-2, Plastics — Epoxy resins — Determination of chlorine content — Part 2: Easily saponifiable
chlorine
ISO 21627-3, Plastics — Epoxy resins — Determination of chlorine content — Part 3: Total chlorine
3 Description of test methods
3.1 Physical properties
3.1.1 Determination of the melting range
3.1.1.1 Determination of the melting range using capillary methods
The test shall be performed in accordance with ISO 3146:2000, method A.
Principle of ISO 3146:2000, method A:
A specimen is heated in a capillary tube at a controlled rate, and monitored visually for change in shape.
NOTE Epoxy resins are not single chemical substances, but polymolecular compounds. This is evident from their
melting behaviour — the process is not limited to one temperature but extends over a range of temperatures. The limits of
the melting range consist of a “sinter point”(also known as the “stick point”) and the “melted stage”. The challenge is to
establish exact definitions of these “points” for interpretation by variou
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