| abstract |
An encapsulated curing agent, for use in a chemical composition to be cured, such as, an adhesive or encapsulant, comprises a polymeric coating forming a shell around a curing agent core. The curing agent is capable of exhibiting a morphology change and expanding upon the application of heat at a temperature below the degradation temperature of the polymeric coating material, and below the curing temperature of the encapsulant or adhesive composition in which the encapsulated curing agent is to be used. This allows the curing agent to escape from the encapsulation coating and into the composition to be cured before the cure temperature of the composition is reached. |