Water transport into epoxy resins and composites

Thesis/Dissertation · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987

OSTI ID:5210928

Tsou, H S

The processing-property relationships were established for the epoxy system of tetraglycidyl 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane (TGDDM) cured with diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS). The TGDDM-DDS epoxy system was selected for analysis as the ensuing polymer matrix is most common in high-performance fiber-reinforced epoxy composites. Experiments on water transport in epoxy resins with varying compositions were performed and a relaxation-coupled transport behavior was observed in these epoxy resins. By post-curing vitrified epoxy resins, the additional free volume usually measured in them was removed and maximum water uptake was reduced. Since epoxy resins were in a quasi-equilibrium glassy state after the post-cure, Fick's law with a constant diffusion coefficient could adequately describe the water sorption behavior. A network formation model based on the branching theory was developed, taking into account the difference in reactivities of primary and secondary amines and the etherification reaction. Using this network formation model, water uptake in post-cured epoxy resins was found to be proportional to tertiary amine concentration.

• Research Organization: Purdue Univ., Lafayette, IN (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5210928
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
360601 -- Other Materials-- Preparation & Manufacture
360603* -- Materials-- Properties
COMPOSITE MATERIALS
DIFFUSION
EPOXIDES
FIBERS
FICK LAWS
MATERIALS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC POLYMERS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
POLYMERS
REINFORCED MATERIALS
RESINS
SATURATION
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
WATER SATURATION