Title: SYNTHESIS AND PROCESSING OF FURAN-BASED EPOXY RESINS FOR FIRE RESISTANT COMPOSITES

Authors: Amy E. Honnig, Giuseppe R. Palmese

DOI: 10.33599/nasampe/s.23.0155

Abstract: Wildfires cause damage to human life and property. By 2100, there is an anticipated 50 % increase in extreme wildfires (burning < 25,000 acres) from increased greenhouse gas emissions. With the anticipated increase in fire threats, sustainable and novel structural protective materials are sought after that have a high strength-to-weight ratio like polymer fiber reinforced composites or carbon/carbon composites. Focusing on the matrix in such systems, epoxy resins are commonly used for their ease of processability. However, typical epoxy resins are highly flammable limiting their use in structural applications. Moreover, the use of flame retardant additives poses environmental concerns. Therefore, there is a need to develop sustainable and thermally stable epoxy resins for use in fire resistant composites. In this study, two furan-based difunctional epoxy resins were synthesized and characterized for use in flame retardant composites without adding a flame-retardant. The molecular structure of epoxies eliminated the need for a curing agent or catalyst. The thermal stability was tested using Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA). The pyrolysis behavior was investigated using a tube furnace. Both resins had a high char yield (40-45 %) in inert environments and created carbon foam showing promise as fire resistant composites without the use of additional flame-retardants

References: 1. Fisher, L.; Ziaja, S., "California's Fourth Climate Change Assessment: Statewide Summary Report". (2018). 2. Savage, G., Carbon-Carbon Composites. First ed.; New York: Chapman & Hall, 1993. 3. Dunlop, A. P., The Furans. New York: Reinhouse Publishing Corporation, 1953. 4. Witkowski, A.; Stec, A. A.; Hull, T. R., Thermal Decomposition of Polymeric Materials. In SFPE Handbook of Fire Protection Engineering, Fifth ed.; Hurley, M. J., Ed. Springer: 2016. 5. Bellucci, F.; Camino, G., Flammability of Polymer Composites. In Wiley Encyclopedia of Composites, Second ed.; Nicolais, L.; Borzacchiello, A., Eds. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: 2012. 6. Holfinger, M. S.; Conner, A. H.; Holm, D. R.; Hill, C. G., "Synthesis of Difurfuryl Diamines by the Acidic Condensation of Furfurylamine with Aldehydes and Their Mechanism of Formation". J. Org. Chem. 60 (1995): 1595-1598. 7. Hu, F.; Yadav, S. K.; LaScala, J. J.; Sadler, J. M.; Palmese, G. R., "Preparation and Characterization of Fully Furan-Based Renewable Thermosetting Epoxy-Amine Systems". Macromol. Chem. Phys. (2015): 1441-1446. 8. ASTM Standard C373-18, "Standard Test Methods for Determination of Water Absorption and Associated Properties by Vacuum Method for Pressed Ceramic Tiles and Glass Tiles and Boil Method for Extruded Ceramic Tiles and Non-tile Fired Ceramic Whiteware Productions". ASTM International: West Conshohocken, PA, 2018. 9. Vidil, T.; Tournilhac, F.; Musso, S.; Robisson, A.; Leibler, L., "Control of Reactions and Network Structures of Epoxy Thermosets". Progress in Polymer Science 62 (2016): 126-179. 10. Irvine, D. J.; McCluskey, J. A.; Robinson, I. M., "Fire Hazards and Some Common Polymers". Polymer Degradation and Stability 67 (2000): 383-396.

Conference: SAMPE 2023

Publication Date: 2023/04/17

SKU: TP23-0000000155

Pages: 10

Price: $20.00