Synthesis, Characterization, and Composite Properties of Casein Incorporated p-Aminophenol-Urea-Formaldehyde Copolymers

ABSTRACT

Modified Urea-formaldehyde (UF) thermosetting resin, containing casein and p-amino phenol has been synthesized by polycondensation of urea, casein, and formaldehyde in the presence of varying proportion of p-aminophenol under alkaline condition. All the prepared resins were characterized by free-formaldehyde content, free-phenol content, viscosity measurements, and infrared spectroscopy (IR). Their curing kinetics were studied isothermally and also by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) on dynamic run. The resin samples were cured isothermally at 120°C using two different curing agents, that is p-toluene sulphonic acid (PTS) and hexamine, to understand the curing behavior of novel resin samples. The cured resins were characterized by IR and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The resin samples were employed for the fabrication of glass fiber and jute fiber reinforced composites respectively by maintaining 2:3 and 3:2 proportion of resin: reinforcement. The prepared composites were tested for their mechanical properties and resistance toward various chemicals.

Keywords:

• casein
• composites
• characterization
• curing
• mechanical properties

Acknowledgments

The authors are thankful to the Head of the chemistry department for providing necessary research facilities.

Notes

GFRC = Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites; JFRC = Jute Fiber Reinforced Composites.

A = %Change in weight; B = %Change in thickness; D = Destroyed; NA = Not Affected; G = Glass Fiber Reinforcered Composites; J = Jute Fiber Reinforcered Composites.