Influence of silica fillers during the electron irradiations of DGEBA/TETA epoxy resins, part I: Study of the chemical modification on model compounds

The study of the chemical modifications of model compounds of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/triethylene tetramine (DGEBA/TETA) epoxy resins under electron irradiation is described. The reaction of butylamine and N,N′-diethylethylene diamine with DGEBA afforded model compounds of the DGEBA/TETA structure. Nanometric silica was used as filler for these model compounds. 1H and 13C NMR analyses allowed identification of the chemical structures before and after irradiation. C-O and C-N scissions were observed with the formation of phenolic and methyl-ketone ends and of primary and secondary amines. For the model compounds containing the 1,2-diaminoethylene structure, the scission of the C-N bond is followed by the formation of an enamine end. The mechanisms of the different bond scissions are proposed. The presence of the nanometric silica fillers allows the protection of some C-N bonds. The reaction of the chemical species formed by electron irradiation with the reactive functions at the silica surface is proposed to explain the chemical modifications observed on the irradiated filled model compounds.