The fracture mechanics properties of epoxy powder coatings for corrosion protection

Although epoxy paints are widely and increasingly used very little information is available concerning the conditions that affect stable (adhesive) failure or unstable (cohesive) 'crack jumping' failure. Consequently the parameter of fracture surface energy (y) has been chosen to characterise the fracture properties of five epoxy resins based on diglycidyl ether bisphenol A 'DGEBA' cured with trimellitic anhydride 'TMA'. Principles of fracture surface energy measurement previously applied to structural adhesive have been applied here to epoxy powder coatings...[cont'd]