Properties of Epoxy Composites Cured by a Complex of Organic Tin Halide With an Aminophenol Hardener

Abstract

A method for the synthesis of a complex based on an organic tin halide – dibutylol dibromide – and a aminophenol hardener of the UP-583 brand has been developed. It is found that samples cured with a complex hardener at room temperature are characterized by lower values of tensile strength, elastic modulus and glass transition temperature compared to samples cured with the original hardener UP-583. The values of strain at break are approximately the same for both hardeners. After heat treatment, the strength and modulus values for samples containing the complex sharply increase, as a result of which they are superior to samples based on UP-583. The deformation capacity does not change much, the glass transition temperature increases after heating, but remains significantly lower than for samples cured with the original UP-583. The observed change in the deformation and strength properties of samples during their exposure in a liquid medium is explained by the superposition of the effects of plasticization and re-hardening of epoxy polymers. At low exposure times, the action of the sorbed moisture is mainly aimed at weakening the intermolecular interaction in the sample. In result, its strength decreases and deformability increases. At large values of exposure times, when the amount of sorbed water becomes sufficiently large and a fairly intense molecular mobility develops, pre-hardening processes prevail, leading to an increase in the cross-linking density and, to a decrease in the deformation ability and an increase in the strength index. It is shown that epoxy composites containing a complex hardener are characterized by good performance in the water environment, increased resistance to the development of fungi and mold, as well as better fire resistance. The studied polymers are promising for obtaining antifouling coatings based on them for hydraulic equipment, sea and river vessels.