Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole and tetraethylammonium bromide on the fracture properties of epoxidized soybean oil based thermoset

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Iranian Polymer Journal Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In this paper, we aim to report the effects of catalyst (types and concentrations) on the fracture mechanics of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) based thermosets. ESO resin was thermally cured using methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride curing agent in the presence of two types of catalysts, i.e., tetraethylammonium bromide and 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole (EMI). The loading of the catalysts varied from 0.3 to 0.8 phr. The fracture behaviour of ESO thermoset was examined on the basis of the principle of linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) and essential work of fracture (EWF). LEFM measurements were performed using single-edge notched tensile and double-edge notched tensile (DENT) tests, while, EWF measurements were carried out using DENT tests. The fracture morphologies of the ESO thermosets were characterized via field emission scanning electron microscopy. It was determined that the plane-strain fracture toughness (K IC), the specific EWF (w e), and the specific plastic fracture work (βw p) of ESO thermosets were significantly influenced by the types and loading of catalysts. In addition, the fracture toughness properties were associated with the crosslink density of the ESO thermosets. In addition, it was found that the brittle–ductile transition of EMI-catalyzed ESO thermosets can be assessed by the combination of LEFM and EWF in the fracture toughness measurement.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barany T, Czigany T, Karger-Kocsis J (2003) Essential work of fracture concept in polymers. Period Polytech Mech Eng 47:91–102

    Google Scholar 

  2. Pfaff A (2007) Growing more ductile epoxies: an essential work of fracture study. J Coat Technol Res 4:151–159

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Tan SG, Chow WS (2010) Thermal properties, fracture toughness and water absorption of epoxy/palm oil blends. Polym Plast Tech Eng 49:900–907

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Saleh ABB, Mohd Ishak ZA, Hashim AS, Kamil WA (2009) Compatibility, mechanical, thermal and morphological properties of epoxy resin modified with carbonyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymer liquid rubber. J Phys Sci 20:1–12

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ma J, Qi Q, Bayley J, Du XS, Mo MS, Zhang LQ (2007) Development of SENB toughness measurement for thermoset resins. Polym Test 26:445–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Czigany T (2004) An acoustic emission study of flax fiber-reinforced polypropylene composites. J Compos Mater 38:769–778

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Souiyah M, Muchtar A, Alshoaibi A, Ariffin AK (2009) Finite element analysis of the crack propagation for solid materials. Am J Appl Sci 6:1396–1402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Barany T, Foldes E, Czigany T (2007) Effect of thermal and hygrothermal aging on the plane stress fracture toughness of poly(ethylene terepthalate) sheet. Express Polym Lett 1:180–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Tan SG, Chow WS (2011) Curing characteristics and thermal properties of epoxidized soybean oil-based thermosetting resin. J Am Oil Chem Soc 88:915–923

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Tan SG, Chow WS (2011) Thermal properties, curing characteristics and water absorption of soybean oil-based thermoset. Express Polym Lett 5:480–492

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Cook D (1991) Fracture and structure of highly crosslinked polymer composites. J Appl Polym Sci 42:1259–1269

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Zhang M (2003) A review of the epoxy resin toughening. Syracuse University, New York

    Google Scholar 

  13. Levita G, Petris S, Marchetti A, Lazzeri A (1991) Crosslink density and fracture toughness of epoxy resins. J Mat Sci 26:2348–2352

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Miyagawa H, Mohanty AK, Misra M, Drzal LT (2004) Thermo-physical and impact properties of epoxy containing epoxidized linseed oil. Part 1: anhydride-cured epoxy. Mater Eng 289:629–635

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Miyagawa H, Misra M, Drzal LT (2005) Fracture toughness and impact strength of anhydride-cured biobased epoxy. Polym Eng Sci 45:487–495

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Cho K, Lee D, Park CE (1996) Effect of molecular weight between crosslinks on fracture behaviour of diallylterephthalate resins. Polymer 37:813–817

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Robinson J, Douglas P, Mecholsky J (2002) The effect of stoichiometry on the fracture toughness of a liquid crystalline epoxy. Polym Eng Sci 42:269–279

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Shin S, Jang J (1997) The effect of amine/epoxy ratio on the fracture toughness of tetrafunctional epoxy resin. Polym Bull 39:353–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Shan L, Robertson CG, Verghese KNE, Burts E, Riffle JS, Ward TC, Reifsnider KL (2001) Influence of vinyl ester/styrene network structure on thermal and mechanical behavior. J Appl Polym Sci 80:917–927

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gaymans RJ, Hamberg MJJ, Inberg JPF (2000) The brittle-ductile transition temperature of polycarbonate as a function of test speed. Polym Eng Sci 40:256–262

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Strandberg M (2001) Upper bounds for the notch intensity factor for some geometries and their use in general interpolation formulae. Eng Fract Mech 68:557–585

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Hashemi S (1997) Work of fracture of PBT/PC blends: effect of specimen size, geometry and rate of testing. Polym Eng Sci 37:912–921

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Kim JH, Lee SB (2000) Fatigue crack opening stress based on the strip-yield model. Theor Appl Fract Mech 34:73–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Tjong SC, Xu SA, Li RKY (2000) Work of fracture of polystyrene/high density polyethylene blends compatibilized by triblock copolymer. J Appl Polym Sci 77:2074–2081

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Chen HB, Wu JS (2007) Specific essential work of fracture of polyurethane thin film with different molecular structures. J Polym Sci B Polym Phys 45:1418–1424

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Karger-Kocsis J, Moskala EJ (1997) Relationship between molecular and plane-stress essential work of fracture parameters in amorphous copolyesters. Polym Bull 39:503–510

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Gencur SJ, Rimnac CM, Kurtz SM (2006) Fatigue crack propagation resistance of virgin and highly crosslinked, thermally treated ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Biomaterials 27:1550–1557

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Fayolle D, Verdu J (2005) EWF method to study long term fracture properties of cross-linked polyethylene. Polym Eng Sci 45:424–431

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Bos HL, Nusselder JJH (1994) Toughness of model polymeric networks in the glassy state: effect of crosslink density. Polymer 35:2793–2799

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Mouzakis E, Karger-Kocsis J (1999) Essential work of fracture: application for polymers showing ductile-to-brittle transition during fracture. Polym Bull 42:473–480

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Karger-Kocsis J (1996) For what kind of polymer is the toughness assessment by the essential work concept straightforward. Polym Bull 37:119–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Haughie DW, Buckley CP, Wu J (2006) The integrity of welded interfaces in ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene. Part 2: interface toughness. Biomaterials 27:3875–3881

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Gupta AP, Sharif A, Anshu D (2010) Development of novel bio-based soybean oil epoxy resins as a function of hardener stoichiometry. Polym Plast Tech Eng 49:657–661

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Zhang Z, Evans D (2004) Investigation of fracture properties of epoxy at low temperature. Polym Eng Sci 43:1071–1080

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Biju PK, Nair MNR, Thomas GV (2007) Plasticizing effect of epoxidized natural rubber on PVC/ELNR blends prepared by solution blending. Mat Sci Pol 25:919–932

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Unnikrishnan KP, Eby TT (2005) Blends of epoxy and epoxidized novolac resins. J Elast Plast 37:347–359

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Tucker N, Lindsey K (2002) An introduction to automotive composites. Rapra Technology Limited, England

    Google Scholar 

  38. Ratna D (2001) Mechanical properties and morphology of epoxidized soyabean-oil-modified epoxy resin. Polym Int 50:179–184

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Situ Y, Hu JF, Huang H, Fu HQ, Zeng HW, Chen HQ (2007) Synthesis, properties and application of a novel epoxidized soybean oil-toughened phenolic resin. Chinese J Chem Eng 15:418–423

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Authors would like to express their appreciation to Universiti Sains Malaysia for the Incentive Grant (8021013) and Research University Postgraduate Research Grant Scheme (USM-RU-PRGS 8043019). S.G. Tan also thanks the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Malaysia (MOSTI) for the National Science Foundation (NSF) fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Nibong Tebal, 14300, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

    S. G. Tan & W. S. Chow

Authors
  1. S. G. Tan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. S. Chow
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to W. S. Chow.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Tan, S.G., Chow, W.S. Effects of 2-ethyl-4-methylimidazole and tetraethylammonium bromide on the fracture properties of epoxidized soybean oil based thermoset. Iran Polym J 21, 353–363 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-012-0036-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13726-012-0036-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation