Amine functional polyamides are prepared by reacting dimer fatty acids with excess equivalents of polyamines. The products are effective epoxy curing agents, with both primary and secondary amines available for curing. Figure 2.49 shows a representative structure, though more than one dimer fatty acid segment is possible based on the ratio of reactants. The spacing between amine groups by a dimer fatty acid segment gives an open network with high flexibility and impact resistance but reduced resistance to chemicals and strong
Figure 2.49: Representative structure of reactive polyamide resin
solvents. These agents provide better water and corrosion resistance along with improved wetting and adhesion. Their curing rate is slower but the tendency for blushing is much less.
Other curing agents analogous to polyamide are amidoamides, which are produced by reacting fatty acids with an excess of polyamines. They have lower viscosity than polyamides. Their cured film properties are closer to those of polyamide cured systems, but their lower cross-link density results in lower corrosion resistance.