Critical transition of epoxy resin from brittleness to toughness by incorporating CO2-sourced cyclic carbonate. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ke, Jiexi; Li, Xiaoyun; Jiang, Shuai; Wang, Junwei; Kang, Maoqing; Li, Qifeng; Zhao, Yuhua
• Is Part Of: Journal of CO₂ utilization. Volume 26(2018)
• Page Start: 302
• Page End: 313
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: CO2-sourced monomer -- Cyclic carbonate -- Epoxy resin -- Toughness -- Hydrogen bonding -- Urethane linkage; Carbon dioxide -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide mitigation -- Periodicals; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide -- Environmental aspects; Carbon dioxide mitigation; Periodicals; 628.53205
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcou.2018.05.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2212-9820

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Abstract: A five-membered cyclic carbonate as CO2 -sourced monomer was prepared from ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) with CO2 by cycloaddition reaction, abbreviated as 5CC-EGDE, at 130 ℃ under 10 bar CO2 pressure in the presence of quaternary ammonium salt modified amberlyst (D296) for 20 h. The complete conversion and 98.6% selectivity were obtained, respectively. The incorporation of 5CC-EGDE into epoxy resin could reduce the viscosity during preparation process and improve the toughness effectively. It was ascribed to the ring-opening reaction of 5CC-EGDE with curing agent, and hydrogen bonding, formed between urethane groups and other polar groups. Besides, the low crosslinking density and unreacted carbonate groups remaining in epoxy network were beneficial to the movement of molecular chains and dissipation of energy during deformation process. In addition, effects of hydrogen-bonding interactions and crosslinking density on mechanical performances were also investigated by varying EGDE conversion and amount of added curing agent, respectively. The results indicated that mechanical performances of epoxy resin were promoted by combined effects of urethane linkage, hydrogen bonding, low crosslinking density and unreacted carbonate groups.