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Title: /sup 1/H, /sup 19/F and /sup 11/B nuclear magnetic resonance characterization of BF/sub 3/:amine catalysts used in the cure of C fiber-epoxy prepregs

Conference ·
OSTI ID:5341106

The chemical composition of commercial BF/sub 3/:amine complexes are variable and contain BF/sub 4//sup -/ and BF/sub 3/(OH)/sup -/ salts together with other unidentified highly reactive species. The BF/sub 3/:amine complexes, which are susceptible to hydrolysis, also partially convert to the BF/sub 4//sup -/ salt (i.e. BF/sub 4//sup -/NH/sub 3//sup +/C/sub 2/H/sub 5/) upon heating. This salt formation is accelerated in dimethyl sulfoxide solution and in the presence of the epoxides that are present in commercial prepregs. Commercial C fiber-epoxy prepregs are shown to contain either BF/sub 3/:NH/sub 2/C/sub 2/H/sub 5/ or BF/sub 3/:NHC/sub 5/H/sub 10/ species together with their BF/sub 4//sup -/ salts and a variety of boron-fluorine or carbon-fluorine prepreg species. Considerable variation in the relative quantities of BF/sub 3/:amine to its BF/sub 4//sup -/ salt was observed from prepreg lot to lot, which will cause variable viscosity-time-temperature prepreg cure profiles. It is concluded that the chemically stable and mobile BF/sub 4//sup -/ salt is the pre-dominant catalytic species, acting as a cationic catalyst for the prepreg cure reactions. During the early stages of cure the BF/sub 3/:amine catalyst converts to the BF/sub 4//sup -/ salt in the presence of epoxides, whereas the BF/sub 3/-prepreg species are susceptible to catalytic deactivation and immobilization.

Research Organization:
Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-7405-ENG-48
OSTI ID:
5341106
Report Number(s):
UCRL-89627; CONF-840459-4; ON: DE84006139
Resource Relation:
Conference: 29. national SAMPE symposium, Reno, NV, USA, 3 Apr 1984
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English