Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
1399525 European Polymer Journal 2014 13 Pages PDF
Abstract

•A structural model describing the epoxy homopolymerization with tertiary amines is presented.•Expressions for relevant pre-gel and post-gel statistical averages are derived.•The effect of initiator regeneration and chain transfer is analyzed.•Protic impurities have a relevant role on the network build-up.

A kinetic-structural model for the curing of epoxy resins with tertiary amines as initiators has been proposed. This model is based on a likely reaction mechanism, which includes the effect of tertiary amine regeneration and the effect of proton donors on the initiation and chain-transfer, and a statistical network build-up methodology based on the independent reactivity of epoxy groups and the random recombination of primary chains. A significant effect of proton donors or impurities is predicted by the model, which can be explained by their likely participation as chain-transfer agents and initiating sites. The occurrence of tertiary amine regeneration has also a profound effect on the curing, but the different regeneration mechanisms have opposite effects and may be counter-balanced. This flexible model is able to explain the curing behavior of different epoxy formulations with tertiary amines as initiator.

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Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Organic Chemistry
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