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Identification & Functionality
- CASE Ingredients Functions
- Technologies
- Product Families
Features & Benefits
- Labeling Claims
- CASE Ingredients Features
- Product Highlights
Hycat™ SM-3 is a proprietary liquid catalyst that accelerates the reaction of various epoxy resins with a wide variety of on anhydrides including MTHPA, MHHPA, NMA, PA and more while providing formulators with:
- Low Reaction Onset Temperatures for early gel and low to moderate temperature curing
- Low Peak Temperatures for more even distribution of reaction exotherm
- A unique degree of latency allows for more flexibility in pot life and better heat dissipation
- Liquid material that is easy to handle, easy to load and provides trouble-free blending
- Non-hazardous and low odor catalyst that is not regulated for transportation
Features
- Like 3100S, Hycat™ SM-3 has unique low temperature and latency characteristics that allow formulators to reconsider the use of anhydrides where previously high initial curing temperatures coupled with the use of rapid cure catalysts such as amines or imidazoles that generate excessive internal heat may have been inhibitive.
- Hycat™ SM-3 provides a more even distribution of the heat evolved from a polymer reaction leading to the production of consistently uniform cures that are free from cracks and voids. This is particularly useful in the curing of composites where materials that have been wet out with low viscosity resins require a quick gel but are sensitive to excessive exotherms which can lead to hidden internal defects in the final cure. Similarly thick parts that generate large amounts of internal heat that is difficult to dissipate will benefit greatly from the use of Hycat™ SM-3.
- Hycat™ SM-3 can be used alongside higher temperature rapid cure catalysts such as imidazoles or quaternary salts to take full advantage of Hycat™ SM-3’s low onset capabilities and unique latency to get your reaction going at lower temperatures and then hit it with the heat to finish quickly and tailor the mechanical properties of the final product. Hycat™ SM-3 is a liquid so it is easy to handle, easy to load, easy to adjust and is readily cleaned up with typical organic solvents.
- Hycat™ SM-3 accelerates materials with monomeric, dimeric or polymeric functional groups and will perform very well in the presence of a number of popular toughening agents and additives. This provides formulators with great flexibility to meet desired cure temperatures, cure cycles, pot life, glass transition temperature and mechanical properties.
- Hycat™ SM-3 is REACH and RoHS compliant and manufactured under ISO 9002 quality assurance control standards.
Applications & Uses
- Applications
- Compatible Polymers & Resins
- Recommended Uses
Hycat™ SM-3 is recommended for use in epoxy/anhydride formulations. Most epoxy resins, including Aliphatic, Cycloaliphatic, Phenol-Type Di-and Tri-Glycidyl Ethers, Novolacs and many other epoxy resins will benefit using Hycat™ SM-3.
Hycat™ SM-3 will also accelerate the reaction of other small ring compounds such as aziridines, oxetanes and imides and promote the reaction of an epoxide with a carboxylic acid however Hycat™ 2000S and Hycat™ OA are recommended for acid systems.
Typical commercial applications include:
Filament Winding
Composites
Pultrusion
Potting & Encapsulation
Resin Infusion
Spray Layup
Sheet Molding Composites
Polymer Coatings
Wet Layup
Properties
- Physical Form
- Typical Properties
| Value | Units | Test Method / Conditions | |
| Packaging (HDPE) 200L Drums | 200 (440) | Kgs (Lbs) | — |
| Packaging (HDPE) 20L Jerricans | 20 (44) | Kgs (Lbs) | — |
| Packaging (HDPE) 4L Bottles | 4 (8.8) | Kgs (Lbs) | — |
| Packaging (HDPE) 50L Drums | 50 (110) | Kgs (Lbs) | — |
| Density at 25°C | 1 | — | — |
| Viscosity at 25°C | 300 - 500 | cP | — |
Regulatory & Compliance
- Certifications & Compliance
Technical Details & Test Data
- Additional Information
Hycat™ SM-3 loadings typically range from 1 to 5 phr (parts per hundred epoxy resin) however higher or lower concentrations can be used depending on the formulation and desired end result. Cured products will have a light green tint, the intensity of which is determined by catalyst loading.
DTCS recommends that for evaluations conducted with Hycat™ SM-3 that Hycat™ 3100S and Hycat™ AC-4 also be evaluated. All of these products perform in a similar manner but depending upon the formulation, each has unique synergistic differences that could be advantageous.
Hycat™ SM-3 is based on an activated (DTCS Proprietary Process) oxo-centered-trinuclear Chromium +3 complex. Chromium +3 compounds (aka trivalent chromium), are generally considered to be non-toxic by the EPA and are not to be confused with hazardous Chromium +6 compounds (aka Hexavalent Chromium). In fact Chromium +3 compounds are sold as over the counter dietary supplements such as chromium picolinate and Chromium +3 is considered to be an essential trace element for the human metabolism.
Packaging & Availability
Storage & Handling
- Shelf Life
- 2 years