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Title: Influence of water and high energy radiation on the thermal and spectroscopical characteristics of an epoxy

Thesis/Dissertation ·
OSTI ID:5524702

The epoxy system formed by tetraglycidyl 4,4'-diamino diphenyl methane (TGDDM) and 4,4'-diamino diphenyl sulfone (DDS) (73/27, W/W) was characterized using differential scanning calorimetry, thermo-gravimetric analysis and infrared spectroscopy. Two different curing procedures were used. The effect of water and high energy ionizing radiation (0.5 MeV electron and /sup 60/Co ..gamma..) on the cured epoxy was studied. The results established that water pick-up increases with the extent of cure. The sorbed water plasticizes the epoxy lowering the glass transition temperature. At ambient temperature, the plasticization is reversible. At 70/sup 0/C, part of the sorbed water reacts with the epoxide rings. When soaked at 70/sup 0/C for extended periods of time, water causes permanent damage in the physical and chemical nature of the epoxy. As a result, the glass transition temperature is permanently lowered. The hydrogens in water exchange with the hydrogens on the hydroxyl and amine groups in the epoxy. Low molecular weight species leach out during soaking. Exposure to either 0.5 MeV electron and /sup 60/Co ..gamma.. radiation causes further crosslinking in a cured epoxy. Water pick-up increases with the increase in the electron radiation dose. Electron irradiation also causes some chemical degradation.

Research Organization:
North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh (USA)
OSTI ID:
5524702
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Thesis (Ph. D.)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English