Epoxy resin modification by reactive bio-based furan derivatives: Curing kinetics and mechanical properties

• Published in: Thermochimica acta 2019-03, Vol.673, p.147-157
• Main Authors: Zolghadr, Mohsen, Zohuriaan-Mehr, Mohammad Jalal, Shakeri, Alireza, Salimi, Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bio-additive; Curing kinetic; Epoxy resin; Furan hardener; Furfuryl alcohol
• ISSN: 0040-6031; 1872-762X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tca.2019.01.025

[Display omitted] •Conventional DGEBA epoxy resin was modified by synthesized furanic-based materials.•Advanced Isoconversional analyses are employed to determine activation energy values.•PFA as bio-additive can improve thermomechanical properties and the char yield.•DFA as bio-hardener can be an appropriate alternative for petroleum-based hardeners. Bio-resourced furan derivatives as additive (polyfurfuryl alcohol, PFA) and hardener (Difurfuryl amine, DFA) were synthesized then utilized in the preparation of the bio-based epoxy networks. The structural, thermal, thermomechanical, and mechanical properties and also the curing kinetics of the bio-based epoxy networks were investigated. FTIR and 1HNMR corroborate the successful synthesis of the materials as well as the reaction between components. the mechanical properties of the networks such as tensile strength, Young’s modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus were ranging 10–16 MPa, 900–1100 MPa, 54–64 MPa and 3–4 GPa respectively. The curing kinetics was investigated by non-isothermal DSC and isoconversional methods to determine kinetic data and measurement of the activation energy. The applied models for the kinetic study were successfully fitted to the experimental data obtained from DSC. The results demonstrated the autocatalytic process of curing in samples. Also the activation energy of the curing process was ranging 50–80 kJ/mol.