Resin is an umbrella term for amorphous substances, relatively solid under normal conditions and soft or flexible under heat. The category includes complex organic and non-organic compounds, for example, natural resins (substances released by the plants) and simple chemical compounds (PVC resin).
Synthetic resins are a large group of polymers, among which phenol derivatives (phenol formaldehyde resins) are best known. The final properties of resins depend on the production technology and the additives incorporated into their composition.
Hardeners are organic substances used in a chemical reaction that results in the formation of a spatial macromolecular grid of the oligomers. The thermoplastic in the initial state of the oligomer turns into a rigid thermosetting grid. As a result of the chemical reaction and the interaction of the oligomer with the hardener, the physical state of the substance changes: a liquid or viscous system (oligomer + hardener) becomes solid.
The main physical and chemical advantage of the hardener is its functionality. It is defined by the characteristics such as the number of reactive groups and mobile atoms, the molecular structure, molecular weight. The function of the hardener depends on the structure of the grid of the cured oligomer and, accordingly, the properties of the reactoplast.
The lack or deficiency of the hardener causes a sharp deterioration of the physical properties of the reactoplast polymer. The excess of the hardener causes its plasticization and, as a result, decreases the heat resistance and elasticity.
Requirement of the chemical performance at high speed for isothermal curing process is challenging. It requires step-by-step heating, UV irradiation, as well as various initiators and catalysts to obtain the desired effect.
Manufactures in many industries including mechanical engineering to thermal power engineering need various metal work pieces, molds, parts and other foundry products, ranging from. Casting is easy and affordable method widely used in metal manufacturing. In the process the pre-made forms are filled with a liquid metal. Then the coated forms are cooled down and the finished product is extracted. The foundry industry employs advanced technologies and high quality raw materials to produce cast parts of various standard and non- standard forms and sizes.