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Updated: Jul 15, 2025

Evaluation of the Curing of Adhesive Systems by Rheological and Thermal Testing
Published on: July 3, 2020
Influence of Catalyst Content and Epoxy/Carboxylate Ratio on Isothermal Creep of Epoxy Vitrimers
Barbara Palmieri1, Fabrizia Cilento1, Eugenio Amendola1
1Institute of Polymers, Composite and Biomaterials (IPCB), National Research Council of Italy, 80055 Portici, Italy.
Abstract:
In the present work, a commercial epoxy based on epoxy anhydride and tertiary amine was modified by a metallic catalyst (Zn2+) to induce vitrimeric behavior by promoting the transesterification reaction. The effect of two different epoxy/acid ratios (1 and 0.6) at two different zinc acetate amounts (Zn(Ac)2) on the thermomechanical and viscoelastic performances of the epoxy vitrimers were investigated. Creep experiments showed an increase in molecular mobility above the critical "Vitrimeric" temperature (Tv) of 170 °C proportionally to the amount of Zn(Ac)2. A procedure based on Burger's model was set up to investigate the effect of catalyst content on the vitrimer ability to flow as the effect of the dynamic exchange reaction. The analysis showed that in the case of a balanced epoxy/acid formulation, the amount of catalyst needed for promoting molecular mobility is 5%. This system showed a value of elastic modulus and dynamic viscosity at 170 °C of 9.50 MPa and 2.23 GPas, respectively. The material was easily thermoformed in compression molding, paving the way for the recyclability and weldability of the thermoset system.
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