Thermo-oxidative degradation of novel epoxy containing silicon and phosphorous nanocomposites

Modified epoxy nanocomposites containing silicon and phosphorous was prepared and compared with pure epoxy. The study of thermo-oxidative degradation of modified epoxy nanocomposites and pure epoxy has been utilized by thermal analysis. The thermal stability of modified epoxy nanocomposites is not superior to that of the pure epoxy at low temperature, however, the char yield of modified epoxy nanocomposites is higher than that of the pure epoxy at 800 °C in air atmosphere. The modified epoxy nanocomposites possess better thermal stability at high temperature range. The values of the limiting oxygen index of pure epoxy and modified epoxy nanocomposites are 24 and 32, respectively. This indicates that modified epoxy nanocomposites possesses better flame retardance.By the Kissinger’s method, the activation energies of thermo-oxidative degradation for epoxy nanocomposites are less than those of thermo-oxidative degradation for pure epoxy in first stage of thermo-oxidative degradation. However, the activation energies of thermo-oxidative degradation for epoxy nanocomposites are more than those of thermo-oxidative degradation for pure epoxy in second stage of thermo-oxidative degradation.     

Synthesis, characterization and thermal properties of novel epoxy containing silicon and phosphorus nanocomposites by sol-gel method

Organic-inorganic hybrids were prepared using diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy and tetraethoxysilane via the sol-gel process. The DGEBA type epoxy was modified by a coupling agent to improve the compatibility of the organic and inorganic phases. The sol-gel technique was used successfully to incorporate silicon and phosphorus into the network of hybrids increasing flame retardance.Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of the hybrids. In condensed siloxane species for TEOS, silicon atoms through mono-, di-, tri-, and tetra-substituted siloxane bonds are designated as Q¹, Q², Q³, Q⁴, respectively. For 3-isocyanatopropyltriethoxysilane and diethylphosphatoethyltriethoxysilane, mono-, di-, tri-, tetra-substituted siloxane bonds are designated as T¹, T², T³. Results revealed that Q⁴, Q³, T³ are the major environments forming a network structure. The morphology of the ceramer was examined by scanning electron microscopy and Si mapping. Particle sizes were below 100 nm. The hybrids were nanocomposites. The char yield of pure epoxy resin was 14.8 wt.% and that of modified epoxy nanocomposite was 31 wt.% at 800 °C. A higher char yield enhances the flame retardance. Values of limiting oxygen index of pure epoxy and modified epoxy nanocomposites are 24 and 32, respectively, indicating that modified epoxy nanocomposites possess better flame retardance than the pure epoxy resin.     

Thermal stability and lifetime estimates of a high temperature epoxy by Tg reduction

Thermal degradation of a high temperature epoxy network is studied in terms glass transition temperature (T_g) reduction over a temperature window encompassing the T_g of the network. The T_g is shown to decrease as the network is thermally aged at elevated temperatures in air and in argon. The duration of the aging experiments is extended to long time such that the absolute T_g reduction approaches a long time reduction plateau. Degradation is dominated by non-oxidative pyrolysis with a small contribution from diffusion limited thermal oxidative degradation at the surface. A time–temperature superposition is constructed from the extent of T_g reduction of samples aged in air and the thermal shift factors are shown to have Arrhenius scaling behavior. An activation energy is extracted that agrees with previous activation energy measurements derived from other property measurements of the same network aged under similar conditions. The agreement of the activation energy with past results shows that T_g reduction is controlled by the same degradation mechanism and may be used as an observable for lifetime estimates when thermal degradation is pyrolytic in nature. The extent of T_g reduction is modeled with an autocatalytic rate expression and compared to previous property measurements to show the difference in sensitivity of observable material properties on degradation.     

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.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of polyimide containing 2,6-benzobisoxazole units

A novel polyimide (PI) based on 2,6-bis(p-aminophenyl)-benzo[1,2-d;5,4-d′]bisoxazole has been synthesized via a conventional two-stage procedure with bis(ether anhydrides) (HQDPA). The intermediate poly(amic acid) had inherent viscosities of 1.70 dl/g and could be thermally converted into light yellow polyimide film. The resulted polyimide showed excellent thermal stability, and the glass transition temperatures (T_g) were above 283 °C, the 5% weight loss temperature of the polymer was at 572 °C in N₂. The thermal degradation of the polyimide was studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in order to determine the actual reaction mechanisms of the decomposition process. The activation energy of the solid-state process was determined using Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method, which does not require knowledge of the reaction mechanism, which resulted to be 361.36 kJ/mol. The activation energy of different mechanism models and pre-exponential factor (A) were determined by Coats-Redfern method. Compared with the value obtained from the Ozawa method, the actual reaction mechanism obeyed nucleation and growth model, Avrami-Erofeev function (A₃) with integral form g(X) = [−ln(1−X)]³.     

Thermal degradation kinetics of polystyrene/cadmium sulfide composites

The thermal degradation kinetics of polystyrene/CdS composites were studied by thermogravimetry. The samples were heated in nitrogen, with three different heating rates: 5, 20 and 40 °C min⁻¹. We calculated kinetic parameters using KAS isoconversion method. The results showed that the maximum activation energy of thermal degradation is achieved for PS/CdS composite with about 10% of the CdS filler. Higher concentration of CdS in the composite (20%) induced acceleration of the thermal degradation, approaching the rate of degradation of the pure polystyrene matrix.     

Synthesis,characterization and thermal stability of novel carborane-containing epoxy novolacs

Carborane bisphenol novolacs(3 and 4) were synthesized in the presence of acid catalyst from carborane bisphenols(5 and 6) and formaldehyde. Further epoxidization of carborane bisphenol novolacs with epichlorohydrin gave carborane bisphenol epoxy novolacs(1 and 2). The molecular weight and epoxy value of obtained resins were determined using the molecular weight of their precursors. The epoxy values of 1 and 2 were 0.48 and 0.52 respectively, higher than the maximum theoretical epoxy value(0.45) of difunctional carborane bisphenol epoxy resins. FTIR and NMR were utilized to characterize 1 and 2. The curing behaviors were also studied by DSC and the optimized curing conditions were obtained.TGA analysis indicated that carborane moiety could shield its adjacent organic structures against initial decomposition. On the other hand, B―H on carborane cage could react with oxygen to form a three-dimensional network linked by B―O―B and B―C bonds, which further blocked the movement of formed radicals and thus the degradation process was inhibited.     

Thermal degradation and stability of epoxy nanocomposites: Influence of montmorillonite content and cure temperature

The thermal behaviour and stability of epoxy nanocomposites were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The nanocomposites consisted of a trifunctional epoxy resin, a hardener containing reactive primary amine groups and clay nanoparticles (i.e. montmorillonite), previously treated with octadecyl ammonium. Three levels of nanoclay content (0, 5 and 10%) and three temperature levels (120, 150 and 200 °C) were used. The exfoliation of nanoparticles within the material was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The cure conversion was determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy by selecting the suitable band for epoxide functional groups. The study demonstrated that the nanoclay greatly accelerates the cure, at the different cure temperatures studied. Finally, the thermal stability of the various nanocomposites was established by calculating various characteristic temperatures from thermograms as well as conversion and conversion derivative at maximum decomposition rate. The collisions between resin molecules, which are trapped within the nanoclay galleries, were less effective because they were protected against thermal degradation by the galleries. However, once the collision was effective, the thermal activation occurred more readily.     

Thermal stability and degradation products analysis of benzocyclobutene-terminated imide polymers

Benzocyclobutene-terminated imides were prepared and fully characterized with ¹H NMR, MS, and FT-IR. The thermal degradation of polymers was investigated by using thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and high-resolution pyrolysis-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HR-Py-GC–MS). TGA showed that thermal degradation of the polymer was a single-stage process in N₂, whereas a three-stage degradation in air atmosphere. The major involved products were found to be CO₂, naphthalene and naphthalene derivatives. Degradation mechanism of the polymer was suggested and the relationship between structures of the polymer and degradation products was also discussed.     

Synthesis and thermal characterization of phosphorus containing siliconized epoxy resins

Siliconized epoxy matrix resin was developed by reacting diglycidyl ethers of bisphenol A (DGEBA) type epoxy resin with hydroxyl terminated polydimethylsiloxane (silicone) modifier, using γ-aminopropyltriethoxysilane crosslinker and dibutyltindilaurate catalyst. The siliconized epoxy resin was cured with 4, 4-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), 1,6-hexanediamine (HDA), and bis (4-aminophenyl) phenylphosphate (BAPP). The BAPP cured epoxy and siliconized epoxy resins exhibit better flame-retardant behaviour than DDM and HDA cured resins. The thermal stability and flame-retardant property of the cured epoxy resins were studied by thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and limiting oxygen index (LOI). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and the surface morphology was studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The heat deflection temperature (HDT) and moisture absorption studies were carried out as per standard testing procedure. The thermal stability and flame-retardant properties of the cured epoxy resins were improved by the incorporation of both silicone and phosphorus moieties. The synergistic effect of silicone and phosphorus enhanced the limiting oxygen index values, which was observed for siliconized epoxy resins cured with phosphorus containing diamine compound.     

Thermal stability and dehydration of anapaite

The thermal behavior of anapaite, Ca₂Fe²⁺(PO₄)₂·4H₂O, has been studied by TG/DTG and DSC techniques, complemented by Fourier-transform IR spectroscopy. The anapaite sample, originating from Bellaver de Cerdena (Spain) was identified as such using X-ray diffraction and qualitative energy-dispersive analysis of X-rays. ⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy at various temperatures could not detect any Fe³⁺. It was found from thermal analyses and IR spectroscopy that two types of hydrogen–bonded water molecules exist in the structure. This feature is related to the distance between the hydrogen atom of a water molecule and the oxygen atom of a phosphate group, the distance between both oxygen atoms and the angle O(H₂O)–HO(PO₄). The dehydration process proceeds in two partially overlapping steps. The removal of the last two, strongly bonded water molecules is accompanied by the decomposition of the crystal structure. From TG curves, the activation energy was calculated for different intervals of dehydration reaction. For this purpose, five slow heating rates between 0.4 and 2°C/min were applied. The activation energy for the entire process was also obtained from DSC (223 kJ/mol) and found to be in reasonable agreement with the average of the various values from the TGA (233 kJ/mol). The heat of reaction for the complete dehydration was found to be 177 kJ/mol.     

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.     

Thermal degradation and combustion of a novel UV curable coating containing phosphorus

A novel phosphorus monomer (BDEEP) has been synthesized by allowing phosphorus oxychloride to react with 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and 1,4-Butane diol. Its structure was characterized by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR). The UV-curing behavior was investigated by FTIR. The combustibility was examined by microscale combustion colorimeter (MCC). The heat release rate (HRR) and heat release capacity (HRC) are 42.1 w/g and 44.0 J/g K, respectively. The thermal degradation was characterized using thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-IR). The curve of TGA indicates that there are three characteristic degradation temperature stages for the cured film, which was further characterized by real time Fourier transform infrared (RTFTIR) measurement. It is proposed that the flame retardant action results from decomposition of phosphate to form poly(phosphoric acid), which catalyses the breakage of bonds adjacent to carbonyl groups to form the char, preventing the sample from burning further. The volatilized products formed on thermal degradation of BDEEP indicated that the volatilized products are CO, CO₂, water, alkane, carbonyl, phosphorus compounds and aromatic compounds according to the temperature of onset formation.     

Thermal properties and stability of cassava starch films cross-linked with tetraethylene glycol diacrylate

The thermal stability of starch cross-linked with tetraethylene glycol diacrylate was studied under nitrogen atmosphere by thermogravimetry (TG) and infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The cross-linking reaction was confirmed by the increase in intensity of the absorption band at ca. 3330 cm⁻¹ indicating the reinforcement of hydrogen bonds and the appearance of a new band at 1726 cm⁻¹ associated with the carbonyl group of the cross-linking agent. After cross-linking the solubility of starch in water decreased to the range 9%-16%. The thermogravimetric curves of pure and cross-linked starches showed an initial stage of degradation (up to ca. 150 °C) associated with the loss of water. The main stage of degradation occurred in the range 250-400 °C corresponding to ca. 60%-70% mass loss. The activation energy (E) for the degradation process increased from 145 kJ mol⁻¹ (pure starch) to 195 kJ mol⁻¹ and 198 kJ mol⁻¹ for starch treated for 60 min by UV (30 °C) and at 90 °C, suggesting high stability after cross-linking. A higher value (240 kJ mol⁻¹) was obtained for starch treated by UV for 120 min. The main volatile products determined by FTIR which correspond to hydrocarbons and carbonyl groups are apparently associated with the scission of weak bonds in the chain (probably branched groups) and the scission of stronger bonds (glycosidic linkages), respectively.     

Thermal stability and degradation behavior of novel wholly aromatic azopolyamide-hydrazides

Thermal stability and degradation behavior of a series of novel wholly aromatic polyamide-hydrazides containing azo groups in their main chains have been investigated in nitrogen and in air atmospheres using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetry (TG), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and elemental analysis. The influences of controlled structural variations and molecular weight on the thermal stability and degradation behavior of this series of polymers have also been studied. The structural differences were achieved by varying the content of para- and meta-substituted phenylene rings incorporated within this series. Azopolyamide-hydrazides having different molecular weights of all para-substituted phenylene type units were also examined. The polymers were prepared by a low temperature solution polycondensation reaction of p-aminosalicylic acid hydrazide [PASH] and an equimolar amount of 4,4′-azodibenzoyl chloride [4,4′ADBC] or 3,3′-azodibenzoyl chloride [3,3′ADBC] or mixtures of various molar ratios of 4,4′ADBC and 3,3′ADBC in anhydrous N,N-dimethyl acetamide [DMAc] containing lithium chloride as a solvent at −10 °C. All the polymers have the same structural formula except the mode of linking phenylene units in the polymer chain. The results clearly reveal that these polymers are characterized by high thermal stability. Their weight loss occurred in three distinctive steps. The first was small and assigned to the evaporation of absorbed moisture. The second was appreciable and was attributed to the cyclodehydration reaction of the hydrazide groups into 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings by losing water, combined with elimination of azo groups by losing molecular nitrogen. This is not a true degradation but rather a thermo-chemical transformation reaction of the azopolyamide-hydrazides into the corresponding polyamide-1,3,4-oxadiazoles. The third was relatively severe and sharp, particularly in air, and corresponded to the decomposition of the resulting polyamide-1,3,4-oxadizoles. In both degradation atmospheres, the improved resistance to high temperatures was always associated with increased content of para-phenylene moieties of the investigated polymer. The better thermal stability of the wholly para-oriented type of polymer relative to the other polymers is attributed to its greater chain symmetry which is responsible for its greater close packing, rod-like structure and consequently stronger intermolecular bonds which would be more difficult to break and therefore more resistance to high temperatures. Further, with exception of 160-200 °C temperature range, where the lower molecular weight samples showed considerable weight losses which were most probably due to hydrogen bonded DMAc, all the wholly para-oriented phenylene type of polymer samples behaved similarly regardless of their respective molecular weight. This seems to indicate that the structural building units responsible for high thermal stability of the polymers are their characteristic groups, such as aromatic moieties, amide and hydrazide linkages in case of azopolyamide-hydrazides, and 1,3,4-oxadiazole rings, aromatic nuclei and amide linking bonds in case of polyamide-1,3,4-oxadiazoles, rather than the longer chain segments.     

Thermal stability and structural characterization of organic/inorganic hybrid nonlinear optical material containing a two-dimensional chromophore

In this study, two nonlinear optic hybrid materials with different dimensional alkoxysilane dyes were prepared and characterized. One NLO silane (Cz2PhSO 2OH- TES), a two-dimensional structure based on carbazole, had a larger rotational volume than the other (DR19-TES). Second harmonic ( d 33) analysis verified there is an optimum heating process for the best poling efficiency. The maximum d 33 value of NLO hybrid film containing Cz2PhSO 2OH was obtained for 10.7 pm/V after precuring at 150 degrees C for 3 h and poling at 210 degrees C for 60 min. The solid-state (29)Si NMR spectrum shows that the main factor influencing poling efficiency and thermal stability was cross-linking degree of NLO silane, but not that of TMOS. In particular, the two-dimensional sol-gel system has a greater dynamic and temporary stability than the one-dimensional system due to Cz2PhSO 2OH-TES requiring a larger volume to rotate in the hybrid matrix after cross-linking.     

Study of kinetics of thermal degradation and to determine the activation energies of polyamides based on s-triazine

A series of ten polyamides was prepared by the high-temperature polycondensation of 4,6-bis(N-(4-(benzoylchloride)amino))-2-(N-phenyl- piperazin-1-yl)-1,3,5-triazine with different aromatic and aliphatic diamines. The synthesized polyamides were analyzed by physico-chemical properties such as solubility, density, viscosity etc. The structure of prepared polyamides was evaluated by ¹H NMR and FTIR spectrum. Thermogravimetric analysis used to study the kinetics of thermal degradation of some synthesized polyamides. Broido, Horowitz & Metzger, Coats Redfern and Chan et al. models were applied to respective thermograms to determine the activation energy (E_a). Activation energy data shows that the polyamides obtained from aromatic diamine has greater stability than the polyamides obtained from aliphatic amine.     

Thermal properties and combustion behaviors of a novel UV-curable flame retarded coating containing silicon and phosphorus

A silicon-based acrylate (SHEA) was synthesized via the reaction between 2-hydroxylethyl acrylate and dimethyldichlorosilane, and characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), ¹H NMR spectroscopy and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy. The SHEA was blended with phosphorus-containing tri(acryloyloxyethyl) phosphate (TAEP) at different ratios to obtain a series of UV-curable flame retarded resins. The final unsaturation conversion of the SHEA films was determined by FTIR. Their combustion behaviors were examined by microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC). The thermal degradations of TAEP/SHEA composites were characterized using thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG–IR). The MCC results present that the addition of TAEP into SHEA was able to decrease the HRR, HRC, T_max and THC. Among the TAEP/SHEA resins, Si1 (TAEP:SHEA is 1:1) owns the highest initial decomposition temperature and leaves the most char residue at 800 °C. The change of chemical structure during the thermal degradation process was monitored by real-time FTIR analysis to study the condensed-phase flame retarded mechanism.     

Thermal degradation mechanism of flame retarded epoxy resins with a DOPO-substitued organophosphorus oligomer by TG-FTIR and DP-MS

A novel phosphorus-containing oligomeric flame retardant, poly(DOPO substituted hydroxyphenyl methanol pentaerythritol diphosphonate) (PDPDP) was synthesized and applied to flame retarded epoxy resins. The thermal degradation behaviors of flame retarded epoxy composites with PDPDP were investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), thermogravimetric analysis/infrared spectrometry (TG-FTIR) and direct pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (DP-MS) techniques. The identification of pyrolysis fragment ions provided insight into the flame retardant mechanism. The results showed that the mass loss rate of the EP/PDPDP composites was clearly lower than pure EP when the temperature was higher than 300 °C in air or nitrogen atmosphere. The results also suggested that the main decomposition fragment ions of the EP/PDPDP composite were H₂O, CO₂, CO, benzene, and phenol. The incorporation of PDPDP can reduce the release of combustible gas and induce the formation of char layer, hence the fire potential hazard was reduced.     

Synthesis of a novel hybrid synergistic flame retardant and its application in PP/IFR

A novel inorganic-organic hybrid synergistic flame retardant was prepared by sol-gel reaction and characterized by NMR and FT-IR. It showed that the fire resistance of polypropylene/intumescent flame retardant (PP/IFR) composites could be improved with the combination of hybrid synergistic flame retardant. The char morphology and structure of PP composites were characterized by SEM and Raman spectra. The influence of the hybrid flame retardant on the thermal degradation process of PP composites was analyzed by FT-IR and the rheological behavior of the PP composites was also evaluated. The thermal stability of PP composites was characterized by TGA, weight loss difference and integral procedural decomposition temperature (IPDT). It indicated that the hybrid synergistic flame retardant had good synergistic effect with IFR.