Epoxy/Resole blends—A study of its degradation kinetics

Abstract

The degradation kinetics of blends of resole with epoxy resin, having different weight ratios, has been studied by dynamic thermogravimetric analysis in nitrogen atmosphere at a heating rate of 15°C/min. These blends were prepared by physical mixing and were cured with 40% polyamide (based on blend resin and polyamide). The degradation of each sample followed 0.67^th order degradation kinetics, which was calculated by Coats and Redfern equation using best-fit analysis. This was further confirmed by linear regression analysis. The validity of data was checked by t-test statistical analysis. From this value of reaction order, activation energy (<i>E</i>) and pre-exponential factor (Z) were calculated. It was found that the activation

energy increased while pre-exponential factor decreased as the resole content in the blend decreased from 100 to zero weight percent.