Thermal characterization of para-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde epoxy-acrylic resin cured with reactive diluents

The thermal decomposition of para-tert-butylphenol formaldehyde epoxy-acrylic resin as such or in the presence of reactive diluents based on glycidyl ethers of phenol and para-alkyl substituted phenols has been studied using pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography and thermogravimetric techniques. The samples analysed in the range of temperatures between 200 and 600 deg C degrade statistically by a radical mechanism. The decomposition reaction is strongly influenced by the nature of the analysed sample and temperature. The main decomposition is observed in the temperature range 130- 370 deg C, when methane, ethylene, ethane, benzene, ethyl and isopropyl alcohols, anisole and phenol are yielded in important amounts. The thermogravimetric analysis data show four or five decomposition stages with the apparent thermal stability of the resin /phenol-epoxy acrylate reactive diluent or resin/para- tert-butyl phenol epoxy-acrylate reactive diluent lower as against that of the studied resin, and higher for the resin/para-nonylphenol epoxy-acrylate systems.