METHOD OF FORMING A CURED EPOXY MATERIAL, CURED EPOXY MATERIAL FORMED THEREBY, PHENYLENE ETHER OLIGOMER-ANHYDRIDE REACTION PRODUCT USEFUL IN THE METHOD, AND COMPOSITE CORE INCORPORATING THE CURED EPOXY MATERIAL

摘要

A method of forming a cured epoxy material includes pre-reacting a phenylene ether oligomer with an anhydride hardener before adding an epoxy resin and a curing promoter, then curing the resulting composition. The method provides an improved balance of heat resistance and toughness relative to corresponding methods in which the phenylene ether oligomer is pre-reacted with the epoxy resin prior to addition of hardener, and in which all components are mixed simultaneously. The cured epoxy material can be used in the composite core of an aluminum conductor composite core reinforced cable.