Search

In this work, epoxy hybrid materials were synthesized by addition of thermoplastic segmented aliphatic polyurethanes with good elastic properties. The modified epoxy samples were obtained by curing of previously homogenized mixture of prepared polyurethane melts, epoxy resin and crosslinking agent Jeffamine D-2000. The influence of different weight content of polyurethanes (5, 10 and 15 wt. % compared to pure epoxy resin) as well the influence of different hard segments of elastomers (20, 25 and 30 wt. %) on the curing of modified epoxy systems was studied. The curing was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in dynamic regime from 30 to 300°C, at three heating rates (5, 10 and 20°C/min). With the increase of hard segments content of polyurethanes added in higher concentration (10 and 15 wt. %) into epoxy matrix, the temperature of maximum ratio of curing was shifted to lower values (from 205 to 179°C). Obtained DSC data were analyzed using two integral methods (Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose) and one differential kinetic model (Friedman). The significant differences were observed in the second part of the epoxy curing (for the reaction degrees higher than 60 %), where the values of activation energies remarkably increase. The addition of polyurethane elastomers retarded the curing process due to decreased mobility of reactant molecules caused by higher viscosity of reaction mixture. By detailed analysis of determined kinetic parameters, it is concluded that the influence of slow diffusion is more pronounced in the presence of thermoplastic polycarbonate-based polyurethanes, which confirmed their effect on the mechanism of epoxy curing. The highest tensile strength and hardness showed the DGEBA modified with the polyurethane with highest hard segment content. Increasing the hard segment content of polyurethane and its concentration in matrix, the tensile strength of modified epoxy was increased. The elongation at break of modified epoxy samples was significantly improved by addition of polycarbonate-based polyurethanes with low hard segment content, due to higher content of flexible soft segment chains. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III 45022), i Pokrajinski Sekretarijat za nauku i tehnološki razvoj (projekat 114-451-2396/2011-01). Autor iz Praga duguje zahvalnost „the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic“ (Czech Science Foundation, project No. P108/10/0195).]

Due to their biodegradable and nontoxic nature, biopolymer composites are often used as remarkable adsorbents in treatment of wastewater. In this study chitosan/bentonite composite beads were obtained by addition of clay into the polymer using solution process. Before the composite preparation, bentonite was modified with surfactant cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB). The morphology of beads was examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Thermal properties of the composite beads were studied by simultaneous thermogravimetry coupled with differential scanning calorimetry (SDT) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). TG results showed that the complex decomposition mechanism of the composites depends on the preparation procedure. It was observed that the concentration of NaOH used for composites precipitation affects the final structure of beads. The influence of preparation procedure on the glass transition temperature Tg of chitosan/bentonite samples was not found (Tg values for all samples were about 144 °C). [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III45022 and ON172014 and Provincial Secretariat of Vojvodina for Science and Technological Development 114-451-2396/2011-01.]

The curing reaction for the mixtures of alkyd resins based on ricinoleic acid, phthalic anhydride and three polyols (glycerin, trimethylolpropane or ethoxylated pentaerythritol) with two different commercial melamine resins was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The curing kinetics analysis was performed using the isoconversional methods (Ozawa-Flynn-Wall, Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose and Friedman). Isoconversional methods were carried out with three heating rates (5, 10 and 20°C/min) in a scanning temperature range from 40 to 250°C. It was found that the curing activation energy of resin mixtures is influenced by alkyd and melamine resin type due to the catalytic effect of hydroxyl group on the reactions. The dependence of apparent curing degree on time, which was obtained by mathematical transformations of dynamic DSC data using Ozawa-Flynn-Wall method, describes well the isothermal DSC experiments.

In this work, the attention was paid at the investigation of montmorillonite dispersion in epoxy/amine systems due to improved final properties of the nanocomposites. The influence of different montmorillonite content on the kinetics of curing of epoxy/Jeffamine D-230 systems was followed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The curing of epoxy nanocomposites was performed using dynamic regime at three different heating rates: 5, 10 and 20°C/min. Three isoconversional methods were applied: two integral (Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose methods) and one differential (Friedman method). The presence of montmorillonite (MMT) causes the beginning of curing at lower temperatures. The shape of the DSC curves has been changed by the addition of MMT, supporting the hypothesis of a change in the reaction mechanism. For hybrids with 3 and 5 wt.% of MMT, the Eα dependence is very similar to those found for the reference system (epoxy/Jeffamine D-230) for the curing degree less than 60%. The hybrid with 10 wt.% of MMT has lower energy activation in regard to the referent system without montmorillonite. Greater differences are observed in the second part of the reaction, where it is known that the curing process is more controlled by diffusion (α>0.60). The Ea value increases at the end of the reaction (α→1), which was observed for all systems, and is more pronounced in the presence of montmorillonite. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. III45022]

Copyright of Chemical Industry / Hemijska Industrija is the property of Association of Chemical Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chemical Industry / Hemijska Industrija is the property of Association of Chemical Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Chemical Industry / Hemijska Industrija is the property of Association of Chemical Engineers and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)