Curing Kinetics of Bioderived Furan-Based Epoxy Resins: Study on the Effect of the Epoxy Monomer/Hardener Ratio

The potential of furan-based epoxy thermosets as a greener alternative to diglycidyl ether of Bisphenol A (DGEBA)-based resins has been demonstrated in recent literature. Therefore, a deep investigation of the curing behaviour of these systems may allow their use for industrial applications. In this work, the curing mechanism of 2,5-bis[(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)methyl]furan (BOMF) with methyl nadic anhydride (MNA) in the presence of 2-methylimidazole as a catalyst is analyzed. In particular, three systems characterized by different epoxy/anhydride molar ratios are investigated. The curing kinetics are studied through differential scanning calorimetry, both in isothermal and non-isothermal modes. The total heat of reaction of the epoxy resin as well as its activation energy are estimated by the non-isothermal measurements, while the fitting of isothermal data with Kamal's autocatalytic model provides the kinetic parameters. The results are discussed as a function of the resin composition. The global activation energy for the curing process of BOMF/MNA resins is in the range 72-79 kJ/mol, depending on both the model used and the sample composition; higher values are experienced by the system with balanced stoichiometry. By the fitting of the isothermal analysis, it emerged that the order of reaction is not only dependent on the temperature, but also on the composition, even though the values range between 0.31 and 1.24.

Network Formation and Physical Properties of Epoxy Resins for Future Practical Applications

Epoxy resins are used in various fields in a wide range of applications such as coatings, adhesives, modeling compounds, impregnation materials, high-performance composites, insulating materials, and encapsulating and packaging materials for electronic devices. To achieve the desired properties, it is necessary to obtain a better understanding of how the network formation and physical state change involved in the curing reaction affect the resultant network architecture and physical properties. However, this is not necessarily easy because of their infusibility at higher temperatures and insolubility in organic solvents. In this paper, we summarize the knowledge related to these issues which has been gathered using various experimental techniques in conjunction with molecular dynamics simulations. This should provide useful ideas for researchers who aim to design and construct various thermosetting polymer systems including currently popular materials such as vitrimers over epoxy resins.

Curing Behavior and Properties of Sustainable Furan-Based Epoxy/Anhydride Resins

The last two decades have witnessed a significant growth in using bioderived materials, driven by the necessity of replacing fossil-derived precursors, reducing the fossil fuel consumption, and lowering the global environmental impact. This is possible thanks to the availability of abundant resources from biomasses and the development of optimized technologies based on the principles of sustainability and circular economy. Herein, we report on the synthesis and characterization of new carbohydrate-derived epoxy resins. In particular, 2,5-bis[(oxiran-2-ylmethoxy)methyl]furan has been synthesized and cured with methyl nadic anhydride. The effect of different initiators was studied, in order to identify the most efficient curable formulations. A series of resins was then prepared varying the epoxide-anhydride ratios. The results gathered from physicochemical, mechanical, morphological analyses have demonstrated that the produced furan-based thermosets have the potential to be proposed as sustainable alternatives to the traditional, bisphenol A-containing epoxy resins.

Short- and Long-Range Mechanical and Chemical Interphases Caused by Interaction of Boehmite (γ-AlOOH) with Anhydride-Cured Epoxy Resins

Understanding the interaction between boehmite and epoxy and the formation of their interphases with different mechanical and chemical structures is crucial to predict and optimize the properties of epoxy-boehmite nanocomposites. Probing the interfacial properties with atomic force microscopy (AFM)-based methods, especially particle-matrix long-range interactions, is challenging. This is due to size limitations of various analytical methods in resolving nanoparticles and their interphases, the overlap of interphases, and the effect of buried particles that prevent the accurate interphase property measurement. Here, we develop a layered model system in which the epoxy is cured in contact with a thin layer of hydrothermally synthesized boehmite. Different microscopy methods are employed to evaluate the interfacial properties. With intermodulation atomic force microscopy (ImAFM) and amplitude dependence force spectroscopy (ADFS), which contain information about stiffness, electrostatic, and van der Waals forces, a soft interphase was detected between the epoxy and boehmite. Surface potential maps obtained by scanning Kelvin probe microscopy (SKPM) revealed another interphase about one order of magnitude larger than the mechanical interphase. The AFM-infrared spectroscopy (AFM-IR) technique reveals that the soft interphase consists of unreacted curing agent. The long-range electrical interphase is attributed to the chemical alteration of the bulk epoxy and the formation of new absorption bands.

Epoxy Vitrimers: The Effect of Transesterification Reactions on the Network Structure

Vitrimers are covalently crosslinked polymers that behave as conventional thermosets below the glass transition temperature (Tg) but can flow above a particular temperature, Tv > Tg, by bond exchange reactions. In epoxy vitrimers, transesterification reactions are responsible for their behavior at T > Tv that enables flow, thermoforming, recycling, self-healing and stress relaxation. A statistical analysis based on the fragment approach was performed to analyze the evolution of the network structure of epoxy vitrimers during transesterification reactions. An analytical solution was obtained for a formulation based on a diepoxide and a dicarboxylic acid. A numerical solution was derived for the reaction of a diepoxide with a tricarboxylic acid, as an example of the way to apply the model to polyfunctional monomers. As transesterification acts as a disproportionation reaction that converts two linear fragments (monoesters) into a terminal fragment (glycol) and a branching fragment (diester), its effect on network structure is to increase the concentration of crosslinks and pendant chains while leaving a sol fraction. Changes in the network structure of the epoxy vitrimer can take place after their synthesis, during their use at high temperatures, a fact that has to be considered in their technological applications.

High-Tg, Low-Dielectric Epoxy Thermosets Derived from Methacrylate-Containing Polyimides

Three methacrylate-containing polyimides (Px⁻MMA; x = 1⁻3) were prepared from the esterification of hydroxyl-containing polyimides (Px⁻OH; x = 1⁻3) with methacrylic anhydride. Px⁻MMA exhibits active ester linkages (Ph⁻O⁻C(=O)⁻) that can react with epoxy in the presence of 4-dimethylaminopyridine (DMAP), so Px⁻MMA acted as a curing agent for a dicyclopentadiene-phenol epoxy (HP7200) to prepare epoxy thermosets (Px⁻MMA/HP7200; x = 1⁻3) thermosets. For property comparisons, P1⁻OH/HP7200 thermosets were also prepared. The reaction between active ester and epoxy results in an ester linkage, which is less polar than secondary alcohol resulting from the reaction between phenolic OH and epoxy, so P1⁻MMA/HP7200 are more hydrophobic and exhibit better dielectric properties than P1⁻OH/HP7200. The double bond of methacrylate can cure at higher temperatures, leading to epoxy thermosets with a high-Tg and moderate-to-low dielectric properties.

Analysis of the reaction mechanism of the thiol–epoxy addition initiated by nucleophilic tertiary amines

The mechanism of thiol–epoxy reactions has been analyzed from a theoretical point of view and modelled using experimental kinetic data.

Significantly improving mechanical, thermal and dielectric properties of cyanate ester resin through building a new crosslinked network with unique polysiloxane@polyimide core–shell microsphere

Tough, rigid and thermally resistant resins with outstanding dielectric properties were developed based on polysiloxane@polyimide core–shell microspheres and cyanate ester.

Novel tough and thermally stable cyanate ester resins with high flame retardancy, low dielectric loss and constant based on a phenolphthalein type polyarylether sulfone

Tough cyanate ester resins with good compatibility, low dielectric loss, high flame retardancy and thermal stability were developed.