Dissertation
A fundamental study of water transport in epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers
Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Drexel University
Sep 2018
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/vr9n-ny44
Abstract
Epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers have been historically employed as binders in surface coatings due to their excellent adhesion to high energy surfaces like steel, and aluminium., their good thermal and mechanical properties, and good barrier properties. While there has been a significant effort and relatively large pool of literature on structure to property relationships, such as modulus (E') and glass transition temperature (Tg), for epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers, there is not a good fundamental understanding of how epoxy/amine crosslinking composition correlates to water barrier properties such as solubility of water (S), the diffusivity of water (D), and overall permeability of water (P). Furthermore, a generalized correlation between epoxy/amine crosslinking composition and their water transport properties has not been reported. This study focuses on developing a fundamental relationship between the crosslinking composition of epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers to their water barrier properties and how these properties affect their performance in anti-corrosion coatings. This is done by creating and testing model epoxy/amine polymers and modifying these by adding hydrophobic segments pendant to the network, within the polymer backbone, and as a secondary phase. The concentration of atomic oxygen in the epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers ([O], mol/cc) was found to be the governing parameter for S. The diffusivity to water was also found to be correlated to [O] within sample sets, however, a master curve for D as a function of [O] was not observed. The density ([rho]) and the glassy modulus (EG) of epoxy/amine polymers was found to be weakly correlated and inversely proportional to D. An examination of P - the product of S and D - of all epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers studied showcases the challenge remaining in linking physical and structural properties to P - and D. A major finding in this work is the reduction of both S and D with the addition of a hydrophobic chain extender. Design guidelines for tuning S and D in epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers will be shown and may pave the way to new effective and environmentally benign corrosion control.
Metrics
118 File views/ downloads
49 Record Views
Details
- Title
- A fundamental study of water transport in epoxy/amine crosslinked polymers
- Creators
- John Henry Vergara - DU
- Contributors
- Giuseppe R. Palmese (Advisor) - Drexel University (1970-)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- xxxiii, 277 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Chemical (and Biological) Engineering (1970-2026); College of Engineering (1970-2026); Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 11003; 991014632507904721