DSC, FTIR, and TGA studies on crosslinking and thermal behavior of vinyl acetate-2-ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer and hexamethoxymethylmelamine blends

Abstract

Vinyl Acetate-2-Ethylhexyl acrylate copolymer (VAc-EHA) was solution blended with hexamethoxymethylmelamine (HMMM) resin in aqueous medium using varying proportions. The films were dried at room temperature and under reduced pressure at 65°C. The DSC studies showed endothermic peaks where condensation reaction took place and exothermic peaks pointing toward the possibility of crosslinking reactions. The energy of the endotherms and exotherms increased with increasing HMMM content. These facts were also justified and supported by TGA and FTIR results. The FTIR spectra of the blends indicated the formation of a number of new stretchings, which were generated due to the crosslinking reactions. TGA showed that the higher the HMMM content, the higher the final degradation temperature and the char yield. The temperature of the larger endotherm of the DSC coincided with the region of maximum weight loss rate of the differential TGA curves. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 65: 2075–2080, 1997