Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares and kinetic modeling applied to near-infrared data from curing reactions of epoxy resins: mechanistic approach and estimation of kinetic rate constants

Study of the infrared spectral features of an epoxy curing mechanism

In this work, the isothermal curing process of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) cured with 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) was monitored in situ by mid-infrared (MIR) and near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. With the help of generalized two-dimensional (2D) correlation analysis, the results obtained showed that, during curing, the change of amine and epoxy groups was simultaneous, taking place prior to the change of hydroxyl groups, followed by the change of CH(2)/CH groups, resulting from the ring-opening reaction of epoxy groups. In addition, 2D MIRxNIR hetero-spectral correlation analysis and second-derivative analysis were also employed, by means of which direct evidence of the curing mechanism could be obtained and obscure NIR band assignments in the overlapped CH combination region could be made.

Multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) applied to spectroscopic data from monitoring chemical reactions processes

This paper overviews the application of multivariate curve resolution (optimized by alternating least squares) to spectroscopic data acquired by monitoring chemical reactions and other processes. The goals of the resolution methods and the principles for understanding their applications are described. Some of the problems arising from these evolving systems and the limitations of the multivariate curve resolution methods are also discussed. This article reviews most of the applications of multivariate curve resolution applied to reacting systems published between January 2000 and June 2007. Some basic papers dated before 2000 have also been included.

Validation of the concentration profiles obtained from the near infrared/multivariate curve resolution monitoring of reactions of epoxy resins using high performance liquid chromatography as a reference method

This paper reports the validation of the results obtained by combining near infrared spectroscopy and multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares (MCR-ALS) and using high performance liquid chromatography as a reference method, for the model reaction of phenylglycidylether (PGE) and aniline. The results are obtained as concentration profiles over the reaction time. The trueness of the proposed method has been evaluated in terms of lack of bias. The joint test for the intercept and the slope showed that there were no significant differences between the profiles calculated spectroscopically and the ones obtained experimentally by means of the chromatographic reference method at an overall level of confidence of 5%. The uncertainty of the results was estimated by using information derived from the process of assessment of trueness. Such operational aspects as the cost and availability of instrumentation and the length and cost of the analysis were evaluated. The method proposed is a good way of monitoring the reactions of epoxy resins, and it adequately shows how the species concentration varies over time.

Kinetic analysis of reactions of Si-based epoxy resins by near-infrared spectroscopy, 13C NMR and soft–hard modelling

Soft- and hard-modelling strategy was applied to near-infrared spectroscopy data obtained from monitoring the reaction between glycidyloxydimethylphenyl silane, a silicon-based epoxy monomer, and aniline. On the basis of the pure soft-modelling approach and previous chemical knowledge, a kinetic model for the reaction was proposed. Then, multivariate curve resolution-alternating least squares optimization was carried out under a hard constraint, that compels the concentration profiles to fulfil the proposed kinetic model at each iteration of the optimization process. In this way, the concentration profiles of each species and the corresponding kinetic rate constants of the reaction, unpublished until now, were obtained. The results obtained were contrasted with 13C NMR. The joint interval test of slope and intercept for detecting bias was not significant (alpha=5%).