Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for the preparation of prepregs which comprises i. impregnating a fibrous reinforcing material with a liquid composition containing an epoxide resin and a photopolymerisable compound which is an acrylic ester containing, attached to an organic group of at least 5 carbon atoms, at least one group of formula CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)COO-- or (CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONH).sub.2 CHCOO or CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONHCH(OH)CH.sub.2 COO-- wherein R 3 is a hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine atom or an alkyl hydrocarbon group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in the molar ratio of from 1:10 to 10:1, and with a heat-activated curing agent for epoxide resins, and ii. in the absence of a substance which gives rise to a substantial degree of photoinduced polymerisation through consumption of epoxide groups, exposing the impregnated material to actinic radiation such that the composition solidifies due to photopolymerisation of the said photopolymerisable compound while the epoxide resin remains substantially in the thermosettable state.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
152 words
A method for the preparation of prepregs which comprises i. impregnating a fibrous reinforcing material with a liquid composition containing an epoxide resin and a photopolymerisable compound which is an acrylic ester containing, attached to an organic group of at least 5 carbon atoms, at least one group of formula CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)COO-- or (CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONH).sub.2 CHCOO or CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONHCH(OH)CH.sub.2 COO-- wherein R 3 is a hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine atom or an alkyl hydrocarbon group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms, in the molar ratio of from 1:10 to 10:1, and with a heat-activated curing agent for epoxide resins, and ii. in the absence of a substance which gives rise to a substantial degree of photoinduced polymerisation through consumption of epoxide groups, exposing the impregnated material to actinic radiation such that the composition solidifies due to photopolymerisation of the said photopolymerisable compound while the epoxide resin remains substantially in the thermosettable state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, in which the epoxide resin, the photopolymerisable compound, and the said curing agent together constitute from 20 to 80% by weight of the prepreg.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The method of claim 1, in which the epoxide resin contains at least one group of formula ##STR26## directly attached to an atom of oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, where either R and R 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, in which case R 1 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, or R and R 2 together represent --CH 2 CH 2 --, in which case R 1 denotes a hydrogen atom.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1, in which the heat-activated curing agent is a polycarboxylic acid anhydride, dicyandiamide, a complex of an amine with boron trifluoride or boron trichloride, a latent boron difluoride chelate, an aromatic polyamine, or an imidazole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1, in which the photopolymerisable compound does not contain a 1,2-epoxide group.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 1, in which the fibrous reinforcing material is also impregnated with a dual-functional substance having in the same molecule both at least one 1,2-epoxide group and at least one group of formula CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)COO-- or (CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONH).sub.2 CHCOO-- or CH.sub.2 ═C(R.sup.3)CONHCH(OH)CH.sub.2 COO-- where R 3 is as defined in claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
117 words
The method of claim 6, in which the dual functional substance contains in the same molecule at least one group of formula ##STR27## directly attached to an atom of oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, and at least one group of formula ##STR28## directly attached to an atom of oxygen, nitrogen, or sulfur, where either R and R 2 each represent a hydrogen atom, in which case R 1 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, or R and R 2 together represent --CH 2 CH 2 --, in which case R 1 denotes a hydrogen atom, and R 3 is a hydrogen, chlorine, or bromine atom or an alkyl hydrocarbon group of 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the acrylic ester has the general formula ##STR29## where d is an integer of 1 to 8, e is an integer of 1 to 20, f is zero or 1, R 15 denotes --H, --OH, or --OOCCH═CH 2 , and R 16 denotes --H, --CH 3 , --C 2 H 5 , --CH 2 OH, or --CH 2 OOCCH═CH 2 .
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the acrylic ester has the general formula ##STR30## where e is an integer of 1 to 20, f is zero or 1, g is zero or a positive integer, provided that f and g are not both zero, h is 1, 2, 3, or 4, R 15 denotes --H, --OH, or --OOCCH═CH 2 , R 17 denotes --H, --Cl, --CH 3 , or --C 2 H 5 , and R 18 denotes an organic radical of valency h linked through a carbon atom or carbon atoms thereof to the indicated h terminal oxygen atoms.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the acrylic ester has the general formula ##STR31## where f is zero or 1, h is 1, 2, 3, or 4, and R 19 denotes an organic radical of valency h, linked through a carbon atom thereof other than the carbon atom of a carbonyl group.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 1, in which the acrylic ester has the general formula R.sup.20 --C--CH.sub.2 OOCCH═CH.sub.2).sub.3 where R 20 denotes CH 2 --, C 2 H 5 --, or CH═CHCOOCH 2 --.