Development and thermal behavior of a new type of polymer materials with reduced combustibility based on epoxy–amine composites modified with copper(II) hexafluorosilicate

Abstract

The polyamine chelate complex of copper(II) hexafluorosilicate—[Cu(eda)(deta)]SiF6—(a flame retardant-hardener of epoxy resins) and CuSiF6-containing epoxy–amine composites—DGEBA/pepa-CuSiF6—with reduced combustibility and with the varied content of CuSiF6 were obtained in the DGEBA–pepa–CuSiF6 system (pepa—H2N[–C2H4NH–]nH, n = 1 (eda—NH2C2H4NH2) and n = 2 (deta—NH2C2H4NHC2H4NH2); DGEBA—bisphenol A diglycidyl ether). These samples were characterized by IR spectra, thermal analysis and flammability studies. The results of Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) showed that thermal decomposition of [Cu(eda)(deta)]SiF6 is completed at 368 °C and the maximal temperature of the gaseous combustion products was 488 °C. TGA data for DGEBA/pepa-CuSiF6(22) confirm that the incorporation of [Cu(eda)(deta)]SiF6 into DGEBA significantly increases thermal stability and anti-flammability of CuSiF6-containing epoxy–amine composites. Ignition and self-ignition temperatures have been measured for all CuSiF6-containing epoxy–amine composites in accordance with ASTM D1929-16. Depending on the quantity of added CuSiF6, the tignition for this type of composite increases by 15–34 °C, and the tself-ignition increases by 25–58 °C compared to DGEBA/pepa. The flammability of the samples was evaluated by means of UL94 BH methods. The burning rate of the DGEBA/pepa-CuSiF6(66) and DGEBA/pepa-CuSiF6(88) epoxy–amine composites is severe slowed down (these samples do not propagate flame), while rburn. value for the unmodified epoxy–amine sample (DGEBA/pepa) is 25.13 mm min−1.