Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.81, No.3, 646-653, 2001
Viscoelastic behavior of anhydride-cured epoxy system initiated by thermal latent catalyst
The thermal latency and viscoelastic behavior during the cure of a new catalytic (N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate) anhydride-cured epoxy system were studied with differential scanning calorimetry and a rheometer under isothermal conditions. The gelation time was obtained from the evaluation of the storage modulus, loss modulus, and damping factor. The temperature dependence on the reaction time was described by the Arrhenius expression, and the crosslinking activation energy was determined from the Arrhenius plot based on the gelation time and reaction temperature. The gelation time and crosslinking activation energy characterized from theological behaviors increased with increasing anhydride composition and showed a maximum value with a mixing ratio of 0.65, which was due to the compact crosslinking network without a side reaction in the ratio.
Keywords:N-benzylpyrazinium hexafluoroantimonate;latent property;viscoelastic behavior;gel point;crosslinking activation energy