Synthesis and characterization of an epoxy based thermoset containing a fluorinated thermoplastic

A novel fluorinated thermoplastic (FT) was synthesized from diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA), and 3-(trifluoromethyl)aniline. FT was found to be miscible with DGEBA as shown by the existence of a single glass transition temperature (Tg) within the whole composition range. On the basis of several experimental techniques, it was found that upon heating etherification reaction takes place between FT and DGEBA. A DGEBA-aromatic diamine (4,4′-methylenebis(3-chloro 2,6-diethylaniline) formulation was modified with the FT. The influence of FT on the epoxy-amine kinetics was investigated. Both structural parameters, gelation, and vitrification, were found to be affected by etherification reaction between epoxy and hydroxyls groups belonging to FT. The presence of ether linkages induced system stoichiometry modification. In addition, the curing conditions influence on FT migration towards the surface was studied on samples prepared with 20 wt % of modifier. SEM–EDX analysis confirmed that modified systems exhibits notable fluorine enrichment within the uppermost 200 μm. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 2781–2792, 2007