Polybenzoxazines-New high performance thermosetting resins : Synthesis and properties

A new class of epoxy nanocomposites with completely defined organic/inorganic phases was prepared by reacting octakis(glycidyldimethylsiloxy)octasilsesquioxane [(glydicylMe2SiOSiO1.5)8] (OG) with diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) at various compositional ratios. The effects of reaction curing conditions on nanostructural organization and mechanical properties were explored. A commercial epoxy resin based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was used as a reference material throughout these studies. FTIR was used to follow the curing process and to demonstrate that the silsesquioxane structure is preserved during processing. OG/DDM composites possess comparable tensile moduli (E) and fracture toughness (KIC) to, and better thermal stabilities than, DGEBA/DDM cured under similar conditions. Dynamic mechanical analysis and model reaction studies suggest that the maximum cross-link density is obtained at N = 0.5 (NH2:epoxy groups = 0.5) whereas the mechanical properties are maximized at N = 1.0. Digestio...

Organic/Inorganic Hybrid Composites from Cubic Silsesquioxanes

Mechanical characterization of copolymers based on benzoxazine and epoxy

The characteristics of sorption and diffusion of water in an amine-cured epoxy system based on tetraglycidyl diaminodiphenylmethane and a novolac glycidyl ether resin were studied as a function both of the polymer microstructure, known from previous works, and the temperature. Water-sorption experiments and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were performed. Tensile stress–strain and Rockwell hardness tests were conducted to investigate the effects of absorbed water on the mechanical properties of the material. Competing effects of the sorption of water in the free volume and of strong interactions between water molecules and polar groups of the network were used to explain the diffusional behavior observed, which followed Fick's second law. DMA analysis seemed to be sensitive to the water effects and the viscoelastic behavior was related both to the water-sorption processes and to the microstructure of the system. An important impact of water uptake on the tensile properties at break was also appreciated. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 80: 71–80, 2001

Effect of water sorption on the structure and mechanical properties of an epoxy resin system

Molecular modeling of crosslinked epoxy polymers: The effect of crosslink density on thermomechanical properties

The tensile mechanical properties and fracture toughness of a Bisphenol-A type difunctional epoxy resin, cured with different amounts of metaphenylene diamine, using two cure cycles, were determined over a range of temperature. The tensile modulus in the glassy state was seen to be predominantly related to intermolecular packing, while in the rubbery state crosslink density was the important factor. Yielding appeared to be due to an increase in free volume as a result of dilatation during the tensile test and was related to a critical shear stress. The large strain properties like tensile strength, elongation-to-break, and toughness showed a more complex dependence on chemical structure, molecular architecture, intermolecular packing, and crosslink density. The roles played by the relaxation processes in determining mechanical properties are highlighted.

The temperature‐dependence of some mechanical properties of a cured epoxy resin system

The moisture transport characteristics of a difunctional epoxy resin cured with different amounts of metaphenylene diamine, using two cure cycles, are reported. Besides studying the kinetics of moisture sorption at 20, 50, 75, and 100°C, the investigations also included measurement of thermal expansion coefficients and dynamic mechanical transition of the dry and wet samples. The moisture sorption of the sample is shown to be related to its specific volume and hence to its fractional free volume. In the glassy state, the free volume is apparently in the form of frozen voids, and moisture sorption/desorption at this temperature is of the Langmuir type with little or no bond formation. At higher temperatures the free volume is generated predominantly through segmental motion of the α transition. The Henry's Law mode becomes operative, and the moisture can now form bonds. The possible effect of nonuniform crosslink density on moisture sorption is also considered.

The physical basis of moisture transport in a cured epoxy resin system

Mid- and near-infrared (IR) spectroscopy has been used to study the curing of a bisphenol-A based epoxy resin (EPON-828) with a tetrafunctional curing agent, viz., meta-phenylenediamine (MPDA). Three different cure cycles were used in the study. Primary amine functionality was observed to react relatively rapidly; none remained after curing for 2 h at 75°C. Secondary amine functionality was exhausted in epoxy rich samples subjected to the standard cure cycle (2 h at 75°C followed by 2 h at 125°C). In samples with stoichiometric amount or higher MPDA, complete reaction of secondary amine or epoxy groups was not observed. In amine-rich samples subjected to post curing (6 h at 175°C), evidence was seen for the reaction of hydroxyl and epoxy groups, resulting in a considerable increase in the crosslink density of these samples.

An infrared spectroscopic investigation of the curing reactions of the EPON 828/meta-phenylenediamine system

The dynamic torsional characteristics of a difunctional, bisphenol-A-type epoxy resin cured with different amounts of metaphenylene diamine, using two cure cycles, were determined in torsion at fou...

V. B. Gupta

Papers

The temperature‐dependence of some mechanical properties of a cured epoxy resin system

The physical basis of moisture transport in a cured epoxy resin system

An infrared spectroscopic investigation of the curing reactions of the EPON 828/meta-phenylenediamine system

The effects of stoichiometry and structure on the dynamic torsional properties of a cured epoxy resin system