The use of dihydrazides as latent curing agents in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A coatings

[Display omitted] ► A series of dihydrazides has been synthesized. ► The latent character of dihydrazides as curing agent for DGEBA resins has been proved. ► The characteristics of the thermosets has been determined. Dihydrazides of different structure were synthesized and tested as curing agents for DGEBA epoxy coatings. By calorimetric studies their latent characteristics were proved and the kinetics of the curing studied. The temperatures of activation are usually dependant on the melting point of the dihydrazide. The acceleration by base and Lewis acids was proved, but the latent character was diminished. FTIR/ATR allowed characterizing the final structures of the thermosets and confirming that the fully cured was achieved. The thermal stability of the materials and their thermomechanical characteristics were evaluated by TGA and DMTA, respectively. Mechanical properties of the thermosets were also determined.