Kinetic study by FTIR,TMA, and DSC of the curing of a mixture of DGEBA resin and γ‐butyrolactone catalyzed by ytterbium triflate

A mixture of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and γ‐butyrolactone (γ‐BL) was cured in the presence of ytterbium triflate as a catalyst. The kinetics of the various elemental processes that occur in the curing process were studied by means of isothermal curing in the FTIR spectrometer. The kinetics of the contraction during the curing was also evaluated by TMA. In both cases, the kinetics was analyzed by means of isoconversional procedure and the kinetic model was determined with the so‐called compensation effect (isokinetic relationship). The isothermal kinetic analysis was compared with that obtained by dynamic curing in DSC. We found that all the reactive processes and the contraction follow a surface‐controlled reaction type of kinetic mechanism, R₃. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 381–393, 2004     

Time–temperature–transformation cure diagrams of phenol–formaldehyde and lignin–phenol–formaldehyde novolac resins

In this study, the time–temperature– transformation (TTT) cure diagrams of the curing processes of several novolac resins were determined. Each diagram corresponded to a mixture of commercial phenol–formaldehyde novolac, lignin–phenol–formaldehyde novolac, and methylolated lignin–phenol–formaldehyde novolac resins with hexamethylenetetramine as a curing agent. Thermomechanical analysis and differential scanning calorimetry techniques were applied to study the resin gelation and the kinetics of the curing process to obtain the isoconversional curves. The temperature at which the material gelled and vitrified [the glass‐transition temperature at the gel point (_gelT_g)], the glass‐transition temperature of the uncured material (without crosslinking; T_g0), and the glass‐transition temperature with full crosslinking were also obtained. On the basis of the measured of conversion degree at gelation, the approximate glass‐transition temperature/conversion relationship, and the thermokinetic results of the curing process of the resins, TTT cure diagrams of the novolac samples were constructed. The TTT diagrams showed that the lignin–novolac and methylolated lignin–novolac resins presented lower T_g0 and _gelT_g values than the commercial resin. The TTT diagram is a suitable tool for understanding novolac resin behavior during the isothermal curing process. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Modification of a two‐component system by introducing an epoxy‐reactive diluent: Construction of a time–temperature–transformation (TTT) diagram

Curing reactions of a three‐component system consisting of an epoxy resin diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA n = 0), 1,2‐diaminecyclohexane as curing agent, and vinylcyclohexene dioxide as a reactive diluent were studied to calculate a time–temperature–transformation isothermal cure diagram for this system. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) was used to calculate the vitrification times. DSC data show a one‐to‐one relationship between T_g and fractional conversion α, independent of cure temperature. As a consequence, T_g can be used as a measure of conversion. The activation energy for the polymerization overall reaction was calculated from the gel times obtained using the solubility test (58.5 ± 1.3 kJ/mol). This value was similar to the results obtained for other similar epoxy systems. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 92: 1190–1198, 2004     

Isothermal Cure of an Epoxy System Containing Tetraglycidyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM), a Multifunctional Novolac Glycidyl Ether and 4,4′-Diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS): Vitrification and Gelation

Times to gelation and vitrification have been determined at different isothermal curing temperatures between 200 and 240°C for an epoxy/amine system containing both tetraglycidyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) and a multifunctional Novolac glycidyl ether with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulphone (DDS). The mixture was rich in epoxy, with an amine/epoxide ratio of 0·64. Gelation occurred around 44% conversion. Vitrification was determined from data curves of glass transition temperature, T_g, versus curing time obtained from differential scanning calorimetry experiments. The minimum and maximum values T_g determined for this epoxy system were T_g0=12°C and T_gmax=242°C. Values of activation energy for the cure reaction were obtained from T_g versus time shift factors, a_T, and gel time measurements. These values were, respectively, 76·2kJmol^-1 and 61·0kJmol^-1. The isothermal time–temperature–transformation (TTT) diagram for this system has been established. Vitrification and gelation curves cross at a cure temperature of 102°C, which corresponds to glass transition temperature of the gel. © of SCI.     

Cure behavior of an epoxy–novolac molding compound

The isothermal cure of an epoxy–novolac molding compound was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the molding compound increased in an approximately linear manner with conversion (α) during the major part of the cure process. Predictions of an empirical kinetic scheme (established earlier from dynamic DSC results) compared favorably with the present isothermal results in the absence of vitrification. In combination with the gel point conversion (α_gel) determined via dynamic rheological analysis and gravimetric measurements, our DSC results indicated that gelation bears no apparent effect on the rate of cure whereas vitrification retards the cure reaction. Based on the measured α_gel, the approximate T_g?α relationship, and the thermokinetic results, the time–temperature–transformation diagram of this molding compound was constructed and discussed.     

Master curve and time–temperature–transformation cure diagram of lignin–phenolic and phenolic resol resins

The aim of this work is to generate both a master curve of resol resins based on the time–temperature superposition principle and their TTT cure diagrams. The samples used for this purpose were lignin–phenolic and phenol–formaldehyde resol resins. A TMA technique was employed to study the gelation of resol resins. In addition, a DSC technique was employed to determine the kinetic parameters through the Ozawa method, which allowed us to obtain isoconversional curves from the data fit to the Arrhenius expression. Establishing the relationship between the glass‐transition temperature and curing degree allowed the determination of the vitrification lines of the resol resins. Thus, using the experimental data obtained by TMA and DSC, we generated a TTT cure diagram for each of resins studied. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 3362–3369, 2007     

Curing behavior and thermal property of epoxy resin with boron‐containing phenol‐formaldehyde resin

The curing reaction of bisphenol‐A epoxy resin (BPAER) with boron‐containing phenol–formaldehyde resin (BPFR) was studied by isothermal and dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The kinetic reaction mechanism in the isothermal reaction of BPAER‐BPFR was shown to follow autocatalytic kinetics. The activation energy in the dynamic cure reaction was derived. The influence of the composition of BPAER and BPFR on the reaction was evaluated. In addition, the glass transition temperatures (T_gs) were measured for the BPAER‐BPFR samples cured partially at isothermal temperatures. With the curing conditions varying, different glass transition behaviors were observed. By monitoring the variation in these T_gs, the curing process and the thermal property of BPAER–BPFR are clearly illustrated. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 76: 1054–1061, 2000     

TTT isothermal cure diagram of a dyglicidyl ether of bisphenol A/1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane (DGEBA/1,3-BAC) epoxy resin system

The isothermal cure of an epoxy-cycloaliphatic amine system has been studied following the evolution of both glass transition temperature and conversion. A functional relationship between T_g and conversion is established. The cure reaction is satisfactorily described by a phenomenological model with parameters determined from DSC experiments. By applying the kinetic model, gelation and vitrification curves are calculated and compared with experimental times to gelation and times to vitrification determined at temperatures between 50 and 100°C. The isothermal time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curing diagram including iso-T_g contours has been established. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

New anion exchanger organic–inorganic hybrid materials and membranes from a copolymerof glycidylmethacrylate and γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane

Organic–inorganic hybrid materials and mem branes were prepared through coating on Teflon plate or dip‐coating on microporous alumina substrates with the solution of glycidylmethacrylate (GMA) and γ‐methacryloxypropyl trimethoxy silane (γ‐MPS) copolymer, followed by ring‐opening of the GMA moiety with trimethylamine hydrochloric and sol–gel reaction of the γ‐MPS moiety. Composition of the GMA and γ‐MPS copolymer was varied by changing the feed ratio of GMA to γ‐MPS during the copolymerization. So the thermal stability, hydrophilicity, electrical properties, etc. of the hybrid materials and membranes were varied. Results showed that as the γ‐MPS amount increased in the copolymer, T_d (the temperature on thermogram at 5% weight loss) value of the hybrid materials and water contact angle of the hybrid membrane generally increased, while the anion exchange capacity, water uptake (W_R) and pure water flux decreased. The charge transition point of the hybrid membranes deduced from their streaming potential behavior decreased from pH > 12 to pH = 7–8 as the γ‐MPS amount increased. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 102: 3580–3589, 2006     

Curing kinetics,thermal property,and stability of tetrabromo-bisphenol-A epoxy resin with 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether

The curing reaction of tetrabromo-bisphenol-A epoxy resin (TBBPAER) with 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (DDE) was studied by isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) in the temperature range of 110–140°C. The results show that the isothermal cure reaction of TBBPAER–DDE in the kinetic control stage is autocatalytic in nature and does not follow simple nth-order kinetics. The autocatalytic behavior was well described by the Kamal equation. Kinetic parameters, including 2 rate constants, k₁ and k₂, and 2 reaction orders, m and n, were derived. The activation energies for these rate constants were 83.32 and 37.07 kJ/mol, respectively. The sum of the reaction orders is around 3. The glass transition temperatures (T_gs) were measured for the TBBPAER–DDE samples cured partially in isothermal temperature. With the degree of cure varies, different glass transition behaviors were observed. By monitoring the variation in these T_gs, it is illustrated that the network of the system is formed via different stages according to the sequence reactions of primary and second amines with epoxides. It is due to the presence of the 4 bromine atoms in the structure of TBBPAER that this curing process can be clearly observed in DSC curves. The thermal stability of this system studied by differential thermal analysis–thermogravimetric analysis illustrates that the TBBPAER–DDE material can automatically debrominate and takes the effect of flame retarding when the temperature reaches 238.5°C. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 70: 1991–2000, 1998     

Master curve and time–temperature–transformation cure diagram of a polyfunctional epoxy acrylic resin

The curing reaction of a well‐defined glycidyl methacrylate‐co‐butyl acrylate statistical copolymer, prepared by atom transfer radical polymerization, and a commercial linear diamine (Jeffamine D‐230) was studied with the objectives of constructing and discussing a time–temperature–transformation isothermal curing for this system. Thermal and rheological analyses were used to obtain the gelation and vitrification times. Differential scanning calorimetry data showed a one‐to‐one relationship between the glass‐transition temperature (T_g) and fractional conversion independent of the cure temperature. As a result, T_g was used as a measurement of conversion. We obtained a kinetically controlled master curve for isothermal curing temperatures from 50 to 100°C by shifting T_g versus the natural logarithm time data to a reference temperature of 80°C. We calculated the apparent activation energy by applying two different methods, gel time measurements versus shift factors, suggesting a good agreement between them. Isoconversion contours were calculated by the numerical integration of the kinetic model. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011     

Biodegradable polyurethane based on random copolymer of L‐lactide and ϵ‐caprolactone and its shape‐memory property

A series of biodegradable polyurethanes (PUs) are synthesized from the copolymer diols prepared from L ‐lactide and ε‐caprolactone (CL), 2,4‐toluene diisocyanate, and 1,4‐butanediol. Their thermal and mechanical properties are characterized via FTIR, DSC, and tensile tests. Their T_gs are in the range of 28–53°C. They have high modulus, tensile strength, and elongation ratio at break. With increasing CL content, the PU changes from semicrystalline to completely amorphous. Thermal mechanical analysis is used to determine their shape‐memory property. When they are deformed and fixed at proper temperatures, their shape‐recovery is almost complete for a tensile elongation of 150% or a compression of 2‐folds. By changing the content of CL and the hard‐to‐soft ratio, their T_gs and their shape‐recovery temperature can be adjusted. Therefore, they may find wide applications. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 4182–4187, 2007     

Conversion–temperature–property diagram for a liquid dicyanate ester/high-Tg polycyanurate thermosetting system

The effects of conversion and temperature on the dynamic mechanical properties (at ≈ 1 Hz) of a dicyanate ester/polycyanurate thermosetting system are investigated after cure using torsional braid analysis (TBA). Extent of conversion is measured by T_g. The isothermal glassy-state modulus at measurement temperatures below the glass transition temperature of the monomer (T_g0) decreases with increasing conversion. The isothermal modulus at temperatures above T_g0 passes through a maximum due to competition between increase in the isothermal glassy-state modulus at the measurement temperature due to the vitrification process during cooling and the aforementioned decrease in the modulus with increasing conversion, which is considered to be due primarily to steric constraints in the developing network. The maximum in the isothermal modulus is associated with the boundary between the glass and glass transition regions. The experimental results are summarized in a conversion (T_g)–temperature–property diagram, the T_gTP diagram, which is a framework for understanding relationships between transitions and material properties for thermosetting systems. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Curing kinetics of a “green” thiol‐containing resin: Oligo(ethylene‐2‐mercaptosuccinate)

This work focuses on examining the curing process of neat oligo(ethylene‐2‐mercaptosuccinate) using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), rheology, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The thiol‐containing resin offers much promise as a bioabsorbable polymer in medical field and as a reusable thermoset in sustainable applications. Although curing between thiol groups has been investigated in solutions, studies of neat materials without solvent are rare. Here, the evolution of glass transition temperature (T_g), complex shear modulus (G*), gelation, and chemical structure are monitored as a function of isothermal curing time and temperature. Both T_g and G* increase with curing, indicating the formation of polymer networks. The conversion of the cure is determined from the DiBenedetto equation and is found to follow a second‐order plus second‐order autocatalytic reaction model. Importantly, the intensity of the S–H bond absorption decreases with the extent of curing, which confirms the curing mechanism, i.e., disulfide formation between the thiol groups. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43205.     

Cure and glass transition temperature of the bisphenol S epoxy resin with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane

The curing reaction of bisphenol S epoxy resin (BPSER) with 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) was studied by means of torsional braid analysis (TBA) in the temperature range of 393–433 K. The glass transition temperature (T_g) of the BPSER/DDM system is determined, and the results show that the reaction rate increases with increasing the T_g in terms of the rate constant, but decreases with increasing conversion. 1 The T_g of BPSER/DDM is about 40 K higher than BPAER/DDM. The gelation and vitrification time were assigned by the isothermal TBA under 373 K; in addition, an FTIR spectrum was carried out to describe the change of the molecular structure. The thermal degradation kinetics of this system was investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). It illustrated that the thermal degradation of the BPSER/DDM has n‐order reaction kinetics. 2 © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 78: 794–799, 2000     

Kinetic study of the curing of mixtures of DGEBA and five‐membered cyclic carbonates with lanthanum triflate as cationic initiator

Mixtures of diglycidylether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with 1,3‐benzodioxolane‐2‐one (CC) or 4‐phenoxymethyl‐1,3‐dioxolane‐2‐one (PGEC) were cured in the presence of lanthanum triflate. FTIR/ATR was used to study the evolution of carbonate and epoxide groups to follow the reactive processes that take place during curing. DSC was applied to study the thermal characteristics of the curing process and to determine the glass‐transition temperatures of the cured materials. The kinetics of the curing was studied isothermally by means of FTIR and the kinetic model was selected through the isokinetic relationships. DSC experiments were used to study the kinetics in nonisothermal conditions by means of isoconversional procedures and the Coats–Redfern and Criado methodologies. By TMA we could monitor the evolution of the shrinkage during isothermal curing. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 103: 2875–2884, 2007     

Thermal,thermomechanical, and electrochemical characterization of the organic–inorganic hybrids poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)–silica and PEO–silica–LiClO4

To study the effect of the silica content on the properties of the salt‐free and salt‐added hybrids based on poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) and silica, two series of hybrids, PEO–silica and PEO–silica–LiClO₄ (O:Li, 9:1) hybrids were prepared via the in situ acid‐catalyzed sol–gel reactions of the precursors [i.e., PEO functionalized with triethoxysilane and tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS)]. The morphology of the hybrids was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fracture surfaces of the hybrid. The results indicated that the discontinuity develops with increasing the weight percent of silica in both hybrids. The differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis indicated that effects of silica content on the glass transition temperatures (T_g) of the PEO phase were different in salt‐free and salt‐added hybrids. The T_g of PEO phase increased with increasing weight percent of silica in salt‐free hybrids, whereas the curve of T_g of PEO phase and silica content had a maximum at 35 wt % of silica content in salt‐added hybrids. For both salt‐free and salt‐added hybrids, peaks of the loss tangent, determined by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) were gradually broadened and lowered with increasing weight percent of silica. The storage modulus, E′, in the region above T_g increases with increasing silica content for both PEO–silica and PEO–silica–LiClO₄ hybrids. In the conductivity and composition curves for PEO–silica–LiClO₄ hybrids, the conductivity shows a maximum value of 3.7 × 10^?6 S/cm, corresponding to the sample with a 35 wt % of silica. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 81: 2471–2479, 2001     

Time-temperature-transformation (TTT) cure diagrams: Relationships between Tg,cure temperature,and time for DGEBA/DETA systems

Isothermal curing of a bisphenol A diglycidyl ether-based epoxy-resin-based, using an aliphatic polyamine, has been performed at temperatures between 20 and 60°C. Samples were cured isothermally at various intervals of time, and analyzed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The glass transition temperature (T_g) and the conversion ratio cure determined by residual enthalpy analysis is used as an isothermal cure-controlled reaction. A time-temperature-transformation (TTT) isothermal cure diagram was carried out to include the time to vitrification and iso-T_g curves. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Thermophysical properties of bacterial poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate): Characterized by TMA,DSC, and TMDSC

The melting, isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization behaviors of poly(3‐hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) have been studied by means of temperature modulated differential scanning calorimetry (TMDSC) and conventional DSC. Various experimental conditions including isothermal/annealing temperatures (80, 90, 100, 105, 110, 120, 130, and 140°C), cooling rates (2, 5, 10, 20, and 50°C/min) and heating rates (5, 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50°C/min) have been investigated. The lower endothermic peak (T_m1) representing the original crystals prior to DSC scan, while the higher one (T_m2) is attributed to the melting of the crystals formed by recrystallization. Thermomechanical analysis (TMA) was used to evaluate the original melting temperature (T_melt) and glass transition temperature (T_g) as comparison to DSC analysis. The multiple melting phenomenon was ascribed to the melting‐recrystallization‐remelting mechanism of the crystallites with lower thermal stability showing at T_m1. Different models (Avrami, Jeziorny‐modified‐Avrami, Liu and Mo, and Ozawa model) were utilized to describe the crystallization kinetics. It was found that Liu and Mo's analysis and Jeziorny‐modified‐Avrami model were successful to explain the nonisothermal crystallization kinetic of PHB. The activation energies were estimated in both isothermal and nonisothermal crystallization process, which were 102 and 116 kJ/mol in respective condition. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42412.