1,3-bis(gamma-aminopropyl)tetramethyldisiloxane modified epoxy resins: curing and characterization

Abstract

Incorporation of siloxane oligomers with reactive organofunctional terminal groups, such as amine, epoxy and carboxy, into the structure of epoxy networks, provides improvements in the fracture toughness, water absorption and surface properties of the resultant systems. 1,3-bis(gamma-aminopropyl) tetramethyldisiloxane (DSX) was used as a model curing agent and modifier in bis(4-aminocyclohexyl)methane (PACM-20) cured diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) based epoxy resins. Curing reactions followed by differential scanning calorimetry indicated faster reaction rates between DSX and DGEBA as compared with PACM-20 and DGEBA. Mechanical characterization of the modified products showed improvements in tensile and impact strengths as expected. Glass transition temperatures of these materials showed a decrease with an increase in DSX content.