Effect of stoichiometric concentration of hardener and percentage styrene oxide diluent on the crosslinking and mechanical properties of an epoxy resin cured with DEAPA

Abstract

Epoxy resin was cured with diethylaminopropylamine (DEAPA) in amounts ranging from 10% to 50% of stoichiometric amount. The yield strength of resulting thermosets formed by heat curing at 75°C is found to increase with decreasing amount of hardener. This is attributed to a more densely crosslinked structure resulting from increased tertiary amine‐initiated epoxide–epoxide chain reaction and decreased primary and secondary amine–epoxide reaction. Infrared analysis and swelling data are also presented. Styrene oxide diluent is found to have a moderate effect on mechanical properties in the range from 10 to 25 parts per hundred (phr).