Curing behavior and properties of high biosourced epoxy resin blends based on a triepoxy monomer and a tricarboxylic acid hardener from 10-undecenoic acid

Renewable propane-1,2,3-triyl tris(9-(oxiran-2-yl) nonanoate) (EGU, 100 wt% biogenic) and a tricarboxylic acid triglyceride (CGTU) hardener (85.7 wt% biogenic) were synthesized from 10-undecenoic acid (10-UDA) and used to produce epoxy resins with 52–92 wt% biobased carbon. CGTU was prepared by thermally activated thiol-ene coupling of thioglycolic acid onto propane-1,2,3-triyl tris(undec-10-enoate), (GUD) in the absence of solvent. The characterized CGTU was used as a green hardener of blends based on EGU and a conventional bisphenol A-based epoxy pre-polymer (DGEBA) at various mass percentages (0–100 wt%) with an stoichiometric epoxy/acid equivalent ratio. Calorimetric studies revealed higher peak temperature, lower reaction heats, and longer gelation times in resins with high EGU proportion, evidencing the lower reactivity of aliphatic EGU compared with aromatic DGEBA. Cured resins were yellowish transparent rubber-like materials with glass transition temperatures (Tg) varying from −14 °C to −42 °C and tensile strength in the range of 1750 kPa–790 kPa, for 0 and 100 wt % EGU, respectively. The soluble fraction of all resins was less than 4.3%, reflecting a high level of crosslinking. Thermosets with high biobased content showed both UV-light protection and visible light transparency.     

Thermoset modified with polyethersulfone: Characterization and control of the morphology

Thermoset (TS) epoxy resins can be toughened with a thermoplastic (TP) for high-performance applications. The final structure morphology has to be controlled to achieve high mechanical properties and high impact resistance. Four polyethersulfone-modified epoxy resins are considered. They consist of different epoxy monomer structure (TGAP, triglycidyl-p-aminophenol and TGDDM, tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenylmethane) and a fixed amount of thermoplastic, and they are cured with two different amounts of curing agent. A reaction-induced phase separation occurs for all formulations generating morphologies, different in shapes and scales. The aim is to control the final morphology and in particular its dominant length scale. This morphology depends on the phase separation process, from the initiation to its final stage. The initiation relies on the relative miscibility of the components and on the stoichiometry between epoxy and curing agent. The kinetics depends on the viscosity of the systems. The different morphologies are characterized by electron microscopy or neutron scattering. Dynamic mechanical analysis allows confirming the presence of a phase separation even when it is not observable by electron microscopy. Vermicular morphologies with few hundreds nanometer width are obtained for the systems containing the TGAP as epoxy monomer. Systems formulated with TGDDM presents morphologies on much smaller scale of order a few tens of nanometers. We interpret the different sizes of the morphologies as a consequence of a larger viscosity for the TGDDM systems as compared to the TGAP ones rather than by a latter initiation of phase separation.     

Designing an epoxy composite coating having dual-barrier-active self-healing anti-corrosion functions using a multi-functional GO/PDA/MO nano-hybrid

The graphene oxide, functionalized with polydopamine (PDA) bio-polymers and molybdate (MO) ions, was incorporated into the epoxy coating. The FT-IR, Raman, UV-visible, XRD, and FE-SEM/EDS analyses were utilized for the GO/PDA/MO nanoparticle characterization. The sequence of inhibitors' release from the nano-hybrid and their effect on the electrochemical behavior of the steel sample was explored by the OCP, polarization, and, EIS analyses in the aquatic saline media. EIS analyses revealed inhibition efficiency of 88% for the sample immersed in the GO/PDA/MO-contained solution after 48 h immersion. The polarization results showed a 91% corrosion mitigation index for the sample submerged in the GO/PDA/MO extract-containing solution after 48 h immersion. An increase of the scratched coating Nyquist diameter, the lower corrosion product, and coating blister formation after exposure to the salt spray chamber, as well as the lower adhesion loss in the pull-off test (26%), revealed that the epoxy coating reinforced with GO/PDA/MO nano-hybrids could mitigate the mild steel corrosion by improving the barrier performance and active corrosion protection (self-healing mechanism) behavior.     

m‐Xylylene bismaleimide: a versatile building block for high‐performance thermosets

m‐Xylylene bismaleimide, Compimide ? ? Compimide® is a registered trademark.
MXBI (hereafter MXBI), was developed as a building block for formulating bismaleimide resins with improved processability. MXBI on its own, or in combination with 4,4′‐bismaleimidodiphenylmethane (Compimide MDAB, hereafter MDAB) and with 2,2′‐diallylbisphenol‐A as a co‐monomer, provides very low‐melting resin blends, which can be processed at temperatures around 60–80°C via RTM (Resin Transfer Moulding), VARIM (Vacuum Assisted Resin Infusion Moulding), prepregging, and wet filament winding (FW). Uncured and cured resin properties were evaluated. The mechanical property spectrum of the MXBI/MDAB/diallylbisphenol‐A system with varying MXBI/MDAB ratio shows almost equivalent contributions of MXBI and MDAB to the mechanical properties of a system. Higher MXBI proportions are responsible for lower resin viscosities and hence superior processability. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Photonic Patterns Printed in Chiral Nematic Mesoporous Resins

Chiral nematic mesoporous phenol‐formaldehyde resins, which were prepared using cellulose nanocrystals as a template, can be used as a substrate to produce latent photonic images. These resins undergo swelling, which changes their reflected color. By writing on the films with chemical inks, the density of methylol groups in the resin changes, subsequently affecting their degree of swelling and, consequently, their color. Writing on the films gives latent images that are revealed only upon swelling of the films. Using inkjet printing, it is possible to make higher resolution photonic patterns both as text and images that can be visualized by swelling and erased by drying. This novel approach to printing photonic patterns in resin films may be applied to anti‐counterfeit tags, signage, and decorative applications.     

紫外光引发环氧树脂的下行前线聚合行为

采用紫外光(UV)引发法研究了221型脂环族环氧树脂的下行前线聚合行为.探讨了光引发剂、热引发剂用量和预热温度等对聚合前线的推动速率Vf和前线引发时间ti的影响,并利用傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)、热重(TG)和差示扫描量热(DSC)等对固化物结构和热性能进行了表征.研究结果表明,提高光引发剂浓度、热引发剂浓度或预热温度,均可提高聚合前线的推动速率Vf,缩短引发时间ti.采用该技术制备的环氧树脂固化物具有较好的均一性及热稳定性.     

含磷/氮/硫环交联磷腈微纳米管的合成及对环氧树脂的阻燃作用

采用原位模板法,以六氯环三磷腈(HCCP)和二羟基二苯砜(BPS)为原料合成了一种环状交联型不溶不熔的磷腈大分子——聚环三磷腈-二羟基二苯砜(PZS)微纳米管,研究了PZS对环氧树脂(EP)的阻燃作用及阻燃机理.利用红外光谱(FTIR)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)及透射电子显微镜(TEM)对PZS微纳米管进行了表征;采用热重分析(TG)考察了EP/PZS阻燃材料的热稳定性,并通过极限氧指数(LOI)和微型量热分析(MCC)测试了EP/PZS的阻燃性能.热降解实验结果表明,PZS微纳米管的加入使环氧树脂热降解温度降低,但残炭率显著提高.PZS微纳米管可以显著提高环氧树脂的阻燃性能,当阻燃剂添加量为5%时,环氧树脂的残炭率提高了46%,热释放速率峰值降低了约40%;LOI值从纯环氧树脂的26.0%提高到了30.6%.PZS微纳米管的加入还增强了环氧树脂的力学强度.阻燃性能的显著提高和力学性能的改善归因于PZS微纳米管在环氧树脂基体中的良好分散,以及燃烧炭化过程中生成的石墨化程度较高的类石墨烯结构的残炭,具有较高的抗氧化能力.研究结果表明,PZS微纳米管是一种优良、高效的具有潜在应用价值的阻燃剂.     

Fiber-reinforced three-dimensional graphene aerogels for electrically conductive epoxy composites with enhanced mechanical properties

To enhance the mechanical properties of three-dimensional graphene aerogels with aramid fibers,graphene/organic fiber aerogels are prepared by chemical reduction of graphene oxide in the presence of organic fibers of poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide)(PPTA) and followed by freeze-drying. Thermal annealing of the composite aerogels at 1300 ° C is adopted not only to restore the conductivity of the reduced graphene oxide component but also to convert the insulating PPTA organic fibers to conductive carbon fibers by the carbonization. The resultant graphene/carbon fiber aerogels(GCFAs) exhibit high electrical conductivities and enhanced compressive properties, which are highly efficient in improving both mechanical and electrical performances of epoxy composites. Compared to those of neat epoxy, the compressive modulus, compressive strength and energy absorption of the electrically conductive GCFA/epoxy composite are significantly increased by 60%, 59% and 131%, respectively.     

聚苯氧基磷酸联苯二酚酯/聚磷酸铵膨胀阻燃剂对环氧树脂阻燃性能影响研究

以聚苯氧基磷酸联苯二酚酯(PBPP)与聚磷酸铵(APP)组成复合阻燃剂,对环氧树脂(EP)进行阻燃改性.通过氧指数(LOI)、垂直燃烧(UL-94)、热失重(TGA)、锥形量热(CONE)和扫描电镜(SEM)等方法研究改性环氧树脂的阻燃性能和阻燃机理.结果表明,PBPP/APP体系对EP具有较好的阻燃性能,阻燃剂添加量为10%时能使环氧树脂的氧指数提高到29.6%,垂直燃烧等级达到UL94 V-0级,残炭量大大增加;平均热释放速率下降45.7%,热释放速率峰值下降51.0%,有效燃烧热平均值下降21.1%;TGA、CONE、SEM等综合分析显示了PBPP/APP改性后的环氧树脂比纯环氧树脂具有更高的热稳定性,燃烧后能够形成连续、致密、封闭、坚硬的焦化炭层,在聚合物表面产生有效覆盖、隔绝了氧气,改善了环氧树脂的燃烧性能.     

Epoxy lactones by photooxidative rearrangement of 6β-acetoxyvouacapane

The first study of photooxidation reaction of 6β-acetoxyvouacapane isolated from Caesalpinia platyloba is reported. The reaction yielded four new epoxy lactones, 6β-acetoxy-15,16α-epoxy-13-spirocassa-12,16-olide, 6β-acetoxy-15,16β-epoxy-13-spirocassa-12,16-olide, 6β-acetoxy-12,13β-epoxycassa-16,12-olide and 6β-acetoxy-12,13α-epoxycassa-16,12-olide. All the structures were supported by 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopy as well as mass spectrometry. The stereochemistry was established on the base of single crystal X-ray diffraction.