Effects of Rare Earth Metal Triflates on Cationic Curing of Epoxy Resin/Polyamide Systems

Abstract

In this article, a new class of cationic initiators, lanthanide triflates, has been studied in the cationic curing of epoxy resin, diglycidyl ether biphenyl A (DGEBA), and polyamide (PA) mixtures. The reaction mechanism of the cationic curing of DGEBA/PA mixtures has been studied. The kinetics of this process has been evaluated by the Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The effect of the time and temperature on curing on crosslinking degree can be predicted via the Gel-curve. Ytterbium triflate initiator is proved to have the highest reactivity.

Keywords:

• Cationic initiators
• Cure kinetics
• Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)
• Gel-curve

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We appreciate the DSC and GT-II Gel-time measurement for Miss Yan Feng and Mr. Guoming Zhong from Guangdong Test Center of Product Quality Supervision (Shunde, Guangdong Province). The authors also thank Guangdong Science and Technology Department (Grant No. 2010B050500001) for the financial support.