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NMA is used for high temperature epoxy composites and coatings which makes it a well-suited product for aerospace, automotive and electrical applications. Photo Credit: Dixie Chemical

Dixie Chemical (Pasadena, Texas, U.S.) is a developer of anhydride-based epoxy curing agents designed for composite applications. As a producer of nadic methyl anhydride (NMA), Dixie Chemical specializes in custom solutions that elevate the performance of composite materials for demanding applications.

NMA is a liquid alicyclic anhydride commonly used to cure epoxy resins in many challenging applications, including fiber reinforced composites used in high-performance aerospace and military applications, as well as mechanically demanding applications, such as filament wound bearings. The excellent electrical properties and high temperature performance make NMA cured epoxies well-suited materials for encapsulating electronic components
and circuits.

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NMA demonstrates many desired characteristics when used as a curing agent for epoxy resins, including ease of handling, compatibility with solid and liquid epoxy resins, long pot life, low viscosity mixtures, low volatility, freedom from odor, less reactive than amines, easily catalyzed to match any process requirements and low exotherm

Epoxy resins cured with NMA demonstrate properties, including light color, excellent electrical characteristics, including arc resistance, high heat distortion temperature and glass transition temperature, thermal stability, minimal shrinkage when cast and excellent hardness and impact strength. NMA may also be used as a building block for unsaturated polyester resins.

Dixie’s liquid anhydride blends are designed to be low viscosity liquids below room temperature. When properly formulated with a standard liquid BPA epoxy resin (viscosity approximately 13,000 cP), these blends generally have viscosities well below 1,000 cP. Such mixes are easy to handle and efficiently wet out fiber reinforcements.

Dixie’s pre-catalyzed liquid anhydrides are formulated with efficient and proprietary catalysts that impart high reactivity at process temperatures, while maintaining good pot life. Parts made with anhydrides have excellent physical and electrical properties and are resistant to a variety of chemicals.