Rheological cure characterization of a polyfunctional epoxy acrylic resin

Role of Surface Enhancement in the Enzymatic Cross-Linking of Lignosulfonate Using Alternative Downstream Techniques

Lignosulfonate (LS), one of the byproducts of the paper and pulp industry, was mainly used as an energy source in the last decade until the valorization of lignin through different functionalization methods grew in importance. Polymerization using multicopper oxidase laccase (from the Myceliophthora thermophila fungus) is one of such methods, which not only enhances properties such as hydrophobicity, flame retardancy, and bonding properties but can also be used for food and possesses pharmaceutical-like antimicrobial properties and aesthetic features of materials. Appropriate downstream processing methods are needed to produce solids that allow the preservation of particle morphology, a vital factor for the valorization process. In this work, an optimization of the enzymatic polymerization via spray-drying of LS was investigated. The response surface methodology was used to optimize the drying process, reduce the polymerization time, and maximize the dried mass yield. Particles formed showed a concave morphology and enhanced solubility while the temperature sensitivity of spray-drying protected the phenol functionalities beneficial for polymerization. Using the optimized parameters, a yield of 65% in a polymerization time of only 13 min was obtained. The experimental values were found to be in agreement with the predicted values of the factors (R ²: 95.2% and p-value: 0.0001), indicating the suitability of the model in predicting polymerization time and yield of the spray-drying process.

Quality Evaluation of Epoxy Pore Casts Using Silicon Micromodels: Application to Confocal Imaging of Carbonate Samples

Pore casting refers to filling the void spaces of porous materials with an extraneous fluid, usually epoxy resin, to obtain a high-strength composite material, stabilize a fragile porous structure, produce a three-dimensional replica of the pore space, or provide imaging contrast. Epoxy pore casting may be accompanied by additional procedures, such as etching, in which the material matrix is dissolved, leaving a clean cast. Moreover, an epoxy resin may be mixed with fluorophore substances to allow fluorescence imaging. Our work aims to investigate and optimize the epoxy pore casting procedure parameters, for example, impregnation pressure. We use silicon micromodels as a reference to validate the key parameters of high-pressure resin impregnation. We demonstrate possible artifacts and defects that might develop during impregnation with resin, e.g., resin shrinkage and gas trapping. In the end, we developed an optimized protocol to produce high-quality resin pore casts for high-resolution 3D imaging and the description of microporosity in micritic carbonates. In our applications, the high-quality pore casts were acid-etched to remove the non-transparent carbonate material, making the pore casts suitable for imaging with Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM). In addition, we evaluate the quality of our etching procedure using micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scans of the pre- and post-etched samples and demonstrate that the etched epoxy pore casts represent the pore space of microporous carbonate rock samples with high fidelity.

Analytical Methods for the Assessment of Curing Kinetics of Polyurethane Binders for High-Energy Composites

Polyurethane (PU) elastomers are largely utilized in the field of high-energy composites such as polymer-bonded explosives (PBXs) and solid rocket grains, due to their distinguished characteristics. Curing kinetics assessment is a crucial parameter to take into account to comprehend the processes to develop new high-energy composites. A comprehensive analytical characterization of curing kinetics is of fundamental importance to produce PU polymers with the most suitable and attractive properties. Moreover, to attain the optimal curing conditions, accurate analytical techniques, and strategies are essential to effectively evaluate their kinetic properties. This paper gives an overview on experimental tools, which can be used for a convenient analysis of kinetic behavior of these binders. The employment of each tool is showed and discussed by appropriate examples from the literature.

Effect of components on the curing of glycidyl azide polymer spherical propellant through rheological method

We have conducted a novel study of the influence of energy components (RDX, AP and CL-20) on curing kinetics of glycidyl azide polymer (GAP) spherical propellant based on rheological method. The autocatalytic model was used to describe curing kinetics and the parameters were determined by the model-fitting method. It was found that the incorporation of components hinders the cross-linking reaction of GAP spherical propellant. Integral isoconversional method was used on rheological kinetics to investigate the changes of the activation energy and we confirmed that the incorporation of components increased the activation energy. It was also found that such components had no effect on the trend of activation energy curves but shrank the peak value at a = 0.2. Dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) showed the differences between pure curing system and its components. These findings are potentially helpful to control the curing effectively and optimize the processing schedules. The addition of components decreased α translation temperature which means the reduction in cross-links. The differences in the values of loss factor tan δ and β translation showed that pure curing system has lower resistance for side chain to motion.

Combined Effect of Chain Extension and Supramolecular Interactions on Rheological and Adhesive Properties of Acrylic Pressure-Sensitive Adhesives

A new approach for the elaboration of low molecular weight pressure-sensitive adhesives based on supramolecular chemistry is explored. The synthesis of model systems coupled with probe-tack tests and rheological experiments highlights the influence of the transient network formed by supramolecular bonds on the adhesion energy. The first step of our approach consists of synthesizing poly(butyl acrylate-co-glycidyl methacrylate) copolymers from a difunctional initiator able to self-associate by four hydrogen bonds between urea groups. Linear copolymers with a low dispersity (M_n = 10 kg/mol, Ip < 1.4) have been synthesized via atom transfer radical polymerization. Films of the copolymers were then partially cross-linked through reaction of the epoxy functions with a diamine. The systematic variation of the average ratio of glycidyl methacrylate and diamine per copolymer shed light on the respective role played by the supramolecular interactions (between bis-urea groups and with the side chains) and by the chain extension and branching induced by the diamine/epoxy reaction. In this strategy, the adhesive performance can be optimized by modifying the strength of "stickers" (via the structure of the supramolecular initiator, for instance) and the polymer network (e.g., via the length and level of branching of the copolymer chains) in order to approach commercial PSA-like properties (high debonding energy and clean removal).

MM and QM: conformational and vibrational spectra analysis of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate

2-Hydroxyethyl acrylate is generally used with other acrylic and methacrylic products in order to get the desired characteristics of the final product. In this work we are about to make an assignment of experimental infrared bands with the help of a theoretical quantum chemistry calculations. The exact knowledge of some bands which are not characteristics of acrylic materials will enable us to make a quick analysis with available techniques of low costs for mixtures of polymers based on acrylate and methacrylate molecules. In the experimental part, the infrared spectrum of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate is obtained by using a FTIR Perkin Elmer model 2000. In the computational part and as first step, the theoretical calculations are performed by the semi-empirical AM1 method for excluding similar structures of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate molecule by a meticulous conformational analysis. As a second step the obtained structures are optimized using DFT. The simulated frequencies are then scaled and a tentative assignment is made based on band intensities and PED percentages. The theoretical calculations predict the existence of thirteen conformations two of them represent the majority of experimental bands in the infrared spectrum. Two neighbor experimental bands located at 1301 and 1207 cm(-1) maybe used as characteristic bands to locate and distinguish the existence of one or both conformations.

Synthesis and properties of a bio-based epoxy resin with high epoxy value and low viscosity

A bio-based epoxy resin (denoted TEIA) with high epoxy value (1.16) and low viscosity (0.92 Pa s, 258C) was synthesized from itaconic acid and its chemical structure was confirmed by 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectroscopy. Its curing reaction with poly(propylene glycol) bis(2-aminopropyl ether) (D230) and methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride (MHHPA) was investigated. For comparison, the commonly used diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) was also cured with the same curing agents. The results demonstrated that TEIA showed higher curing reactivity towards D230/MHHPA and lower viscosity compared with DGEBA, resulting in the better processability. Owing to its high epoxy value and unique structure, comparable or better glass transition temperature as well as mechanical properties could be obtained for the TEIA-based network relative to the DGEBA-based network. The results indicated that itaconic acid is a promising renewable feedstock for the synthesis of bio-based epoxy resin with high performance.

Effect of curing agent and temperature on the rheological behavior of epoxy resin systems

The effect of curing agent (6610) content and temperature on the rheological behavior of the epoxy resin CYD-128 was studied by DSC analysis and viscosity experiments. The results show that the resin system meets the requirements of processing technology. A complete reaction occurs when the curing agent content (40 parts per hundred resin, phr) is a little higher than the theoretical value (33.33 phr), while the degree of reaction of the resin system is reduced when the curing agent content is lower (25.00 phr) than theoretical value. However, excessive curing agent (50.00 phr) results in a lower reaction rate. Curing agent content has little influence on gel time when curing agent content exceeded 33.33 phr and the temperature was less than 70 °C. The isothermal viscosity-time curves shift towards the –x axis when the temperature rises from 50 °C to 80 °C. Meanwhile, higher temperature results in higher reaction rates.