Thermal properties of epoxy–anhydride formulations cured using phosphonium accelerators

Abstract

© 2018, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature. Influence of structure of epoxy resin and anhydride hardener, as well as type and content of accelerator on thermal properties of epoxy–anhydride networks were investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). The experimental values of molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) in the epoxy polymers were determined. Influence of the catalyst on defect structure of the polymer network was observed. The use of two phosphonium salts as curing accelerators to a greater extent than 2-methylimidazole allows fabricating polymers with a higher crosslink density. The concentration dependence of polymer’s thermal properties was studied and the optimum content of the accelerator giving the network with improved properties was determined.