Optimization of Glass Transition Temperature and Pot Life of Epoxy Blends Using Response Surface Methodology (RSM)

Abstract

The aim of this work was to improve the processability of triglycidyl-<i>p</i>-aminophenol (TGPAP) epoxy resin. To achieve this improvement, a diluent, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBF or BPF), was added to TGPAP, and the blended epoxy was then cured with 4, 4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfones (DDS). A response surface methodology (RSM) was used, with the target response being to achieve a blended resin with a high glass transition temperature (T_g) and maximum pot life (or processing window, PW). Characterization through dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) and using a rheometer indicated that the optimum formulation was obtained at 55.6 wt.% of BPF and a stoichiometric ratio of 0.60. Both values were predicted to give T_g at 180 °C and a processing window of up to 136.1 min. The predicted values were verified, with the obtained T_g and processing window (PW) being 181.2 ± 0.8 °C and 140 min, respectively, which is close to the values predicted using the RSM.