Effects of humid environment on thermal and mechanical properties of a cold-curing structural epoxy adhesive

The effects of exposure to different humid environments in a commercial cold-cured epoxy adhesive were investigated. Samples were exposed up to one month to 55%, 75% and 100% relative humidity (RH) or immersed in liquid water, at a constant temperature (23 °C). Weight changes, thermal and mechanical properties before and at different stages of the aging, were discussed.In the examined aging conditions, absorbed water remained below 1% and saturation level was not achieved. Plasticization, reactivation of curing reactions and erasure of physical aging were observed in the specimens subjected to the different humidity regimes, all affecting both the thermal and the mechanical properties of the aged samples: while the Tg was influenced by plasticization mainly at shorter times of exposure and by post-curing at longer treatment times, the mechanical characteristics were less affected by these phenomena. These effects were found more pronounced at humidity levels higher than 75% RH. Doubly hydrogen-bonded water molecules linked to the network also influenced the Tg of the system, while they did not affect noticeably their flexural properties. Finally, the effects of water exposure can be regarded as equivalent to those of a thermal treatment at temperature around the Tg, i.e. both leading to an erasure of the physical aging.

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► A cold-cured epoxy adhesive is exposed to different humid environments for one month.
► Reactivation of curing reactions and erasure of physical aging are experienced.
► Plasticizing effects are also observed.
► Both thermal and mechanical properties of the aged specimens are somehow influenced.
► All the effects are found more pronounced at humidity levels higher than 75%.