Porous epoxy monolith prepared via chemically induced phase separation

Macroporous epoxy monolith was prepared via chemically induced phase separation using diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) as a monomer, 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) as a curing agent, and epoxy soybean oil (ESO) as a solvent. The morphology of the cured systems after removal of ESO was examined using scanning electron microscopy, and the composition of epoxy precursors/solvent for phase inversion was determined. The phase-separation mechanism was deduced from the optic microscopic images to be spinodal decomposition. The pore structure of the cured monolith was controlled by a competition between the rates of curing and phase separation. The ESO concentration, content of curing agent, and the curing temperature constituted the influencing factors on the porous morphology. The average pore size increased with increasing ESO concentration, increasing curing temperature, and decreasing the content of curing agent.