The effect of silicon sources on the mechanism of phosphorus–silicon synergism of flame retardation of epoxy resins

The effect of silicon source on the mechanism and efficiency of silicon–phosphorus synergism of flame retardation was studied. The studied systems composed of a phosphorus-containing epoxy resin and various types of silicon additives including nanoscale colloidal silica (CS), tetraethoxysilane (TEOS), and diglycidylether terminated polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS-DG). Thermal stability and degradation kinetics of cured epoxy resins, elemental analysis of degraded residues, and evolved gases analysis of degradation reactions were conducted with a thermogravimetric analyser, energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, respectively. Addition of silicon compounds showed significant effect on enhancing the thermal stability and char yields of the cured epoxy resins. During thermal degradation, TEOS and PDMS-DG exhibited silicon migration to sample surface and CS did not. Self-degradation of PDMS-DG resulted in a silicon loss for PDMS-DG-containing epoxy resin. From the results it was concluded that using TEOS as an additive for epoxy resins and formation of epoxy-silica hybrid structure through sol–gel reactions was a good approach for achieving phosphorus–silicon synergism in flame retardation.     

Effect of silica content on thermal stability of fumed silica/epoxy composites

Composites of a fumed silica industrial residue and an epoxy resin were prepared and their thermal stability and thermal degradation behaviour were studied by TGA in air. Classical thermal stability parameters, based on the initial decomposition temperature (IDT), temperature of maximum rate of mass loss (T_max) and integral procedure decomposition temperature (IPDT) were calculated before and after subtraction of the filler mass from the TGA curves. Without filler mass subtraction, the thermal stability of the epoxy resin seems to be improved and the mass loss rate was reduced by the addition of fumed silica. Nevertheless, after subtraction of the filler mass, the thermal degradation behaviour of the resin was only slightly affected by the silica content. A possible negative effect of the silica content on the cure was also found.     

Study on curing of novolac epoxy resin

The optimization of proportions of novolac epoxy resin, Dobeckot E4 and polyamide hardener, EH411 has been established by DSC and the data indicates that resin-polyamide, 100∶40 and 100∶50, appear to be optimum where ‘extent of cure’ is maximum. The kinetic parameters for these formulations have been evaluated using isothermal and dynamic modes by employing DSC. The rate constants have been evaluated for curing process of these formulations using isothermal DSC mode in the temperature range of 70°–90°C. These have also been predicted at 20°±1°C (room temperature) by extrapolating the data obtained at elevated temperatures. A comparison of the predicted values with the experimental values shows that there is a good agreement between them.     

含芳基噻唑基团环氧树脂材料的制备及热性能

制备了一种含芳基噻唑基团热稳定环氧树脂材料(TDABZ),通过傅里叶变换红外光谱(FTIR)对其结构进行了表征,采用热重分析-微熵热重分析(TGA-DTG)计算了TDABZ的热分解动力学参数,利用热重分析(TGA)和动态热机械分析(DMTA)探讨了TDABZ的耐热性能。 结果表明,TDABZ通过TGDDM结构中的环氧基团与混合固化剂(DDS和2-ABZ)结构中的活泼氢反应,在较低的温度下就能完全交联固化。 通过Kissinger和Ozawa方法求得TDABZ的热分解活化能分别为205.5和221.9 kJ/mol。 TDABZ固化物具有优异的耐热性能,双悬臂梁法测得的玻璃化转变温度(T_g)达到242.3 ℃,在N₂气气氛下失重5%对应的温度(T_d5)为340.2 ℃,最大失重速率对应的温度(T_dmax)为395.5 ℃,600 ℃的质量保留率为24.1%,显著提高了环氧树脂的热稳定性能,拓宽了其应用领域。     

Cure kinetics of biphenyl epoxy‐phenol novolac resin system using triphenylphosphine as catalyst

The effects of the concentration of triphenylphosphine as a catalyst on the cure reaction of the biphenyl epoxy/phenol novolac resin system were studied. The kinetic study was carried out by means of the analysis of isothermal experiments using a differential scanning calorimeter. All kinetic parameters including the reaction orders, activation energy and kinetic rate constants were evaluated. To describe the cure reaction with the catalyst concentration, the normalized kinetic model was developed. The suggested kinetic model with a diffusion term was successfully able to describe and predict the cure reaction of epoxy resin compositions as functions of the catalyst content and temperature. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 37: 713–720, 1999     

Improved flame retardant properties of epoxy resin by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives

Flame retardant additives of montmorillonite (MMT) and multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were embedded in epoxy resin to improve the resin's flame retardant properties. MMT was fluorinated to exfoliate its layers and enhance its dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT was also fluorinated to create hydrophobic functional groups for improved dispersion into the epoxy resin. The MWCNT reduced the degradation rate of the epoxy resin and increased the char yield. Limiting oxygen index also increased showing first order against char yield. The exfoliated MMT acted as an energy storage medium to hinder thermal transfer within the epoxy resin. The activation energy increased almost two times by fluorinated MMT/MWCNT additives. The fluorination of the additives, MMT and MWCNT significantly improved the flame retardant properties of the epoxy resin.     

Thermal stability of high temperature epoxy adhesives by thermogravimetric and adhesive strength measurements

The thermal degradation of two high temperature epoxy adhesives has been measured in terms of weight loss and adhesion loss and the lifetime predictions are compared for the two independent measurements of thermal degradation. Weight loss measurements were performed at high temperature under accelerated thermal aging conditions. Adhesion loss measurements were performed at lower temperatures closer to typical continuous operating temperatures. An Arrhenius relationship is validated for the thermal degradation of the epoxy adhesives, and the extent of degradation in terms of weight loss and adhesion loss is modelled with an autocatalytic rate expression. The degradation kinetic parameters and models are compared between the two thermal degradation measurements and are found to give similar predictions for the lifetime of the adhesives. In addition, the relationship between network degradation and loss of adhesive strength is discussed.     

酚醛树酯的热解动力学模型

建立了一种利用热重峰值分析进行酚醛树酯热解动力学研究的方法, 这种方法利用热重谱峰上几个特征点的数据来确定动力学参数. 根据酚醛树酯热解DTG曲线的特点, 把酚醛树酯的热解过程分解成三个阶段, 用峰值分析法对每个反应阶段分别建模, 通过三个反应阶段的叠加得到了一个酚醛树酯分阶段热解动力学模型, 该模型能够很好地描述酚醛树酯的热解过程.     

Curing reaction of biphenyl epoxy resin with different phenolic functional hardeners

The investigation of cure kinetics and relationships between glass transition temperature and conversion of biphenyl epoxy resin (4,4′-diglycidyloxy-3,3′,5,5′-tetramethyl biphenyl) with different phenolic hardeners was performed by differential scanning calorimeter using an isothermal approach over the temperature range 120–150°C. All kinetic parameters of the curing reaction including the reaction order, activation energy, and rate constant were calculated and reported. The results indicate that the curing reaction of formulations using xylok and dicyclopentadiene type phenolic resins (DCPDP) as hardeners proceeds through a first-order kinetic mechanism, whereas the curing reaction of formulations using phenol novolac as a hardener goes through an autocatalytic kinetic mechanism. The differences of curing reaction with the change of hardener in biphenyl epoxy resin systems were explained with the relationships between T_g and reaction conversion using the DiBenedetto equation. A detailed cure mechanism in biphenyl-type epoxy resin with the different hardeners has been suggested. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 773–783, 1998     

A quantitative study of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide evolution during thermal degradation of flame retarded epoxy resins

Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) combined with infrared analysis of the evolved gases analysis (EGA) has been used to study the thermal degradation behaviour of epoxy resin both in air and nitrogen. The mass loss as a function of temperature has been correlated with the evolution of carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), and oxygen consumption as measured using an oxygen analyser. An analytical technique has been developed to quantitatively measure the carbon monoxide and dioxide gases evolved. The effect of a range of flame retardants containing phosphorus, nitrogen and halogen elements on CO and CO₂ evolution during thermal degradation of flame retarded epoxy resins has also been observed.     

Fire Retardancy of Aluminum Hydroxide Reinforced Flame Retardant Modified Epoxy Resin Composite

A novel phosphorous containing flame retardant epoxy resin is synthesized by modifying the epoxy resin initially with phosphoric acid and further with aluminum hydroxide (ATH) to enhance the fire retardancy of the modified epoxy resin. The several phosphorous modified epoxy resin to ATH mass ratios were used to study the effect of ATH addition on epoxy. Thermal and mechanical properties. The structure of the modified flame retardant epoxy resin was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) while thermal degradation behavior and flame retardant properties were examined using thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA) and UL-94 testing. Furthermore, ultimate tensile strength and young modulus were analyzed to study the effect of ATH addition on mechanical properties. The findings indicated that fire retardancy of ATH reinforced modified ep oxy resin is higher than virgin and phosphorous modified epoxy resin and depicted eminent flame retardant properties with suitable mechanical properties.

     

Organic/inorganic hybrid materials from an epoxy resin cured by an amine silsesquioxane

The thermal behaviour of an epoxy resin cured with an amine-POSS was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The kinetic of polymerization reaction and the thermal degradation have been analyzed based on an iso-conversional model. The obtained results showed that the activation energies of both processes depend on the degree of conversion.     

The curing kinetics and mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites reinforced by PEEK microparticles

In this paper, a polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK)/epoxy composite was prepared by using PEEK microparticles as the reinforcement. The nonisothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) test was used to evaluate the curing reaction of PEEK/epoxy resin system. The curing kinetics of this system were examined utilizing nonisothermal kinetic analyses (Kissinger and Ozawa), isoconversional methods (Flynn-Wall-Ozawa and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose) and an autocatalytic reaction model. During these analyses, the kinetic parameters and models were obtained, the curing behavior of PEEK/epoxy resin system under dynamic conditions was predicted. The results show that isoconversional methods can adequately interpret the curing behavior of PEEK/epoxy resin system and that the theoretical DSC curves calculated by the autocatalytic reaction model are in good agreement with experimental data. Furthermore, the tensile elongation at break, tensile strength, flexural strength, compression strength and compression modulus increased by 81.6%, 33.66%, 36.53%, 10.98% and 15.14%, respectively, when PEEK microparticles were added in epoxy resin composites.     

Application of isoconversional and multivariate non-linear regression methods for evaluation of the degradation mechanism and kinetic parameters of an epoxy resin

The thermo-oxidative degradation of an epoxy resin obtained by curing of an industrially produced DGEBA mixture with 4,4′-methylene-dianiline (MDA) and used as electric insulator has been investigated by TG + DTG + DSC simultaneous analyses performed in static air atmosphere, at five heating rates. TG, DTG and DSC curves showed that, in the temperature range 25-900 °C, a glass transition followed by three thermo-oxidative processes occur. The processing of the non-isothermal data corresponding to the first process of thermo-oxidation was performed by using Netzsch Thermokinetics - A Software Module for Kinetic Analysis. The dependence of the activation energy, evaluated by isoconversional methods, on the conversion degree and the relative high standard deviations of this quantity show that the investigated process is a complex one. The mechanism and the corresponding kinetic parameters were determined by multivariate non-linear regression program and checked for quasi-isothermal data. It was pointed out that the first process of thermo-oxidation of the investigated resin consists in four steps, each step having a specific kinetic triplet. The obtained results were used for prediction of the thermal lifetime of the material corresponding to some temperatures of use and the end point criterion 5% and 10% mass loss.     

Studies of degradation enhancement of polystyrene by flame retardant additives

Experimental methods as well as thermodynamic modeling techniques were utilized to explore potential gas and condensed-phase contributions of various flame retardant (FR) additives with polystyrene polymer. FR additives investigated include hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD), triphenyl phosphine oxide (TPPO), triphenyl phosphate (TPP), triphenyl phosphine sulfide (TPPS), and sulfur. Flame studies of fundamental FR activity were also employed using molecular beam mass spectrometry analysis of FR active species directly in a flame system. The flame studies show direct evidence for active bromine (HBr, Br) species for HBCD and active phosphorous species (HPO₂, PO, PO₂ HPO₃) species for TPPO and TPP which provide high potential for gas-phase activity for these FR additives. Various experimental measurements were also done to assess the degradation species and the degree of degradation of polystyrene by the FR additives. These studies support enhanced degradation of the base polystyrene polymer by the FR additive as a major pathway for condensed FR activity for HBCD and sulfur FR additives. Phosphorous based structures appear to show little enhancement of polystyrene degradation.     

Integration of block copolymer-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes into a trifunctional epoxy resin. Influence on thermal performance

Novel nanocomposite materials were prepared by incorporating block copolymer-wrapped single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) into a trifunctional epoxy resin. The work was focused on the study of the influence of the SWCNTs and the block copolymer based on ethylene oxide and propylene oxide, Pluronic F68, on the thermal and thermo-oxidative cleavage reactions of the resin. A nanocomposite sample containing 2 wt% Pluronic-wrapped SWCNTs was prepared and its behaviour compared with that of Pluronic/epoxy and SWCNT/epoxy composites. Their thermal performance in both oxidative and inert atmospheres was evaluated by different techniques including thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), mass spectrometry and infrared spectroscopy. A kinetic study of the TGA data in both atmospheres based on the Vyazovkin’s advanced isoconversional method showed differences in the activation energies. Infrared spectroscopy of residues extracted at various steps during dynamic heating indicated a common degradation mechanism for all samples, and improved thermo-oxidative performance in the nanocomposite containing Pluronic-wrapped SWCNTs.     

Determination of the Thermal Degradation Kinetic Parameters of Carbon Fibre Reinforced Epoxy Using TG

In this work, a kinetic study on the thermal degradation of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy is presented. The degradation is investigated by means of dynamic thermogravimetric analysis (TG) in air and inert atmosphere at heating rates from 0.5 to 20°C min⁻¹ . Curves obtained by TG in air are quite different from those obtained in nitrogen. A three-step loss is observed during dynamic TG in air while mass loss proceeded as a two step process in nitrogen at fast heating rate. To elucidate this difference, a kinetic analysis is carried on. A kinetic model described by the Kissinger method or by the Ozawa method gives the kinetic parameters of the composite decomposition. Apparent activation energy calculated by Kissinger method in oxidative atmosphere for each step is between 40–50 kJ mol⁻¹ upper than E _a calculated in inert atmosphere. The thermo-oxidative degradation illustrated by Ozawa method shows a stable apparent activation energy (E _a ≈130 kJ mol⁻¹ ) even though the thermal degradation in nitrogen flow presents a maximum E _a for 15% mass loss (E _a ≈60 kJ mol⁻¹ ). This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Behavior of intumescent epoxy resins in fireproofing applications

The thermal degradation process of a commercial intumescent epoxy resin for fireproofing applications was investigated. The changes in the morphology of the material during exposure to fire-like conditions were interpreted in the light of the degradation of single material components and of the overall swelling mechanism. An apparent kinetic model was developed to describe the thermally activated conversion and the weight loss of the material. The dramatic change in the key properties of the material (thermal conductivity, volume swelling, and apparent density) was investigated and linked with the thermal degradation phenomena governing the swelling process. Models were developed to describe material properties as a function of temperature and material conversion. The models provide the simulation of the fire-triggered degradation of the sample material at the heating rates of interest, allowing a detailed analysis of fireproofing performance.     

Liquid crystalline and isotropic epoxy thermosets: Mechanism and kinetics of non-isothermal degradation

Thermal non-oxidative degradability of two epoxy thermosets was studied. Investigations were carried out on a non-commercial liquid crystalline structure and its isotropic homologue in order to provide further insight into the mechanism and kinetics of thermal degradation of the proposed systems. The studies were done by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). For the first time the degradation of a liquid crystalline epoxy was studied using an advanced isoconversional kinetic method. The results were used to predict the thermal stability of both types of epoxy networks. GC-MS analysis was applied on evolved gas during degradation to elucidate the degradation mechanism in accordance with the kinetic results. The liquid crystalline structure has a different mechanism of decomposition in comparison with its isotropic homologue. In spite of a higher T_g value, it shows a similar thermal stability but a lower release of degradation compounds.     

Studies on thermal and morphological properties of 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane-epoxy-bismaleimide matrices

A new cyanate ester monomer, 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane has been synthesized and characterized. Epoxy modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of cyanate ester were made using epoxy resin and 1,1-bis(3-methyl-4-cyanatophenyl)cyclohexane and cured by using diaminodiphenylmethane. The cyanate ester modified epoxy matrix systems were further modified with 4, 8 and 12% (by weight) of bismaleimide (N,N′-bismaleimido-4,4′-diphenylmethane). The formation of oxazolidinone and isocyanurate during cure reaction of epoxy and cyanate ester blend was confirmed by IR spectral studies. Bismaleimide-cyanate ester-epoxy matrices were characterized using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and heat deflection temperature (HDT) analysis. Thermal studies indicate that the introduction of cyanate ester into epoxy resin improves the thermal degradation studies at the expense of glass transition temperature. Whereas the incorporation of bismaleimide into epoxy resin enhances the thermal properties according to its percentage content. However, the introduction of both cyanate ester and bismaleimide influences the thermal properties according to their percentage content. DSC thermogram of cyanate ester modified epoxy and bismaleimide modified epoxy show unimodel reaction exotherms. The thermal degradation temperature and heat distortion temperature of the cured bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester-epoxy systems increased with increasing bismaleimide content. The morphology of the bismaleimide modified epoxy and cyanate ester-epoxy systems were also studied by scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.