Modeling of phenomenological mechanisms during thermal formation and degradation of an epoxy-based nanocomposite

The modeling of curing and degradation of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/2.2'-diamino-1,1'-binaphthalene (DABN) containing ZnO nanoparticles (nano-ZnO) using empirical models is highlighted. Nanoscale dispersion of nano-ZnO into epoxy matrix was confirmed with AFM analysis. Kinetics of DGEBA/DABN/nano-ZnO cure was studied by isothermal DSC. Isothermal kinetic parameters, including k(1), k(2), m and n were determined and it was shown that the kinetically controlled parts of reaction could be expressed well by d alpha/dt = (k(1) + k(2)alpha(m))(1 - alpha)(n) while end of curing process could not be completely expressed by this equation which shows that the end of curing reaction is diffusionaly controlled. The thermal degradation of pure epoxy and epoxy nanocomposite were studied at dynamic mode. The results of thermal degradation showed that degradation process of nanocomposite could be fitted well by d alpha/dt = 2.54 x 10(11) exp(-235.90 x 10(3)/RT)4(1 - alpha)[-ln(1 - alpha)](3/4). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.