THE EFFECTS OF GLASS-BEADS AND SILANE TREATMENTS ON THE CURING BEHAVIOR OF A BROMINATED EPOXY-RESIN - DSC ANALYSES

The curing characteristics of a brominated epoxy resin/dicyandiamide ( DICY) system filled with silane-treated glass beads are studied using isothermal differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Three different si lane coupling agents, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, enzylamino)-ethyl]-3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane, and 3-glycidoxypro pyl-trimethoxysilane, are applied. It is found that the reaction heats of the epoxy system are little affected by the curing temperature and the untreated glass fillers, but changed with the addition of silane- coated glass beads. The effect of glass beads on the curing reaction i s more significant at the low curing temperature and conversion. The s ilane treatment results in changes in T-g, activation energy, reaction heat, reaction rate, and reaction order. Three silanes respond differ ently because of their differences in the activated reaction with the matrix system. Regardless of the various curing mechanisms involved, a simple kinetic expression can describe the curing extent at 170 and 1 80 degrees C with a good accuracy for all systems studied. (C) 1997 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.