Abstract

Tri-functional vanillin-derived epoxy monomer was developed through the synthesized di-functional reagent and cured with a series of different types of hardeners (hydroxyl and amine based) to evaluate thermo-mechanical properties of the resultant epoxy thermosets. Through elevating of curing degree by the hardeners, both alpha transition temperature (T-alpha) and cross-linking density (upsilon) slightly increased (up to 118 degrees C and 69.9 mol m(-3)). However, the highest values of storage and loss modulus (E ' and E '', respectively) were obtained using trimethylolpropane (TMP) in epoxy thermoset systems cooperating with tri-functional epoxy monomer at 3200 MPa and 359.3 MPa, respectively. The sample produced by TMP exhibited the highest amount of statistic heat-resistant index (T-s) (up to 193 degrees C). Nevertheless, the longest half-life and the highest T-d are obtained for the sample prepared by incorporation of tris(hydroxymethyl)aminomethane (TRIS) and 1,10-diaminodecane (1347 s, 431 degrees C, respectively) containing amine agents as curing agent. Remarkably, the sample comprising triethanol amine showed the highest char yield (3.3 mg at 700 degrees C) among the all samples. However, the sample cured by TRIS exhibited the highest elasticity, elongation and tensile strength among the obtained samples (up to 0.48 GPa, 6.56 and 22.90 MPa, respectively). GRAPHICS .