Overview
EN ISO 3673-2:2012 - Plastics - Epoxy resins - Part 2 specifies standardized procedures for the preparation of test specimens and the determination of properties of crosslinked epoxy resins. It applies only to cured (thermoset) epoxy resins and defines casting, curing, specimen cutting and conditioning to obtain reproducible, comparable test data. Methods and property selections are aligned with ISO 10350‑1:2007; test methods for non‑crosslinked (uncured) epoxy resins are excluded (see ISO 18280).
Key topics and technical requirements
- Specimen preparation
- Produce cast sheets of uncained epoxy resin (no fillers/reinforcements) to obtain intrinsic polymer properties.
- Standard sheet thicknesses: 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm.
- Use two polished glass or stainless‑steel plates, shims (2/3/4 mm), silicone/latex joint and clamps for casting.
- Typical mixing example: 100 g epoxy resin with crosslinking agent (anhydride/epoxy equivalent ratio 0.9:1) and accelerator (e.g., 0.5 phr 2,4,6‑tris(dimethylaminomethyl)phenol or 2 phr N,N‑dimethylbenzylamine). Remove air by centrifuge or vacuum.
- Recommended heat post‑treatment example (with methyltetrahydrophthalic anhydride + accelerator): 2 h at 100 °C followed by 15 h at 150 °C (safety ventilation and PPE required due to irritant fumes).
- Specimen cutting and conditioning
- Cut test specimens per ISO 2818.
- Condition specimens at 23 °C ± 2 °C and 50 % ± 5 % relative humidity for at least 16 h before testing.
- Property determination
- Safety
- Addresses laboratory safety: use ventilation, masks, gloves and goggles when handling crosslinking agents.
Applications and users
Who uses EN ISO 3673-2:2012:
- Test laboratories and quality control teams performing material characterization of crosslinked epoxy resins.
- R&D and formulation scientists developing epoxy systems who need reproducible intrinsic property data.
- Manufacturers preparing technical datasheets and comparative datasets for epoxy-based products.
- Certification bodies and purchasers requiring standardized test methods for acceptance testing.
Practical uses:
- Establishing baseline mechanical, thermal and electrical properties of cured epoxy resins.
- Ensuring data comparability across suppliers and batches.
- Supporting material selection for electronics, adhesives, composites and insulating applications.
Related standards
Keywords: EN ISO 3673-2:2012, epoxy resins, crosslinked epoxy, test specimens, sample preparation, curing schedule, ISO 10350‑1, material testing, conditioning, plastics standards.
