Adhesion of polymers to shale rock surfaces

In the course of a project on the application of polymers for rock bonding and reinforcement of coal mine structures, the adhesion of epoxy resins to shale mine rock was studied by infrared and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Two types of bonding were identified: primary bonds between silicates and polymer, and hydrogen bonds from organic compounds on the surface of the shale to oxygen in the polymer. These bonds contribute to the adhesive strength when epoxy resins are used to bind shale. The bonding model, when applied to furfuryl alcohol and polyester resins, predicts inferior binding in the shale system.