Evaluation of Heat Capacity, Moisture and Thermal Expansion of Polymers Based on a Number of Epoxy Novolac Resins

Abstract

In this work, the heat capacity of the studied polymers based on a number of epoxy novolac resins and aromatic amine curing agent was defined by differential scanning calorimetry with DSC 204 F1 Phoenix. Using a thermomechanical analyzer TMA 402 F1 Hyperion (Netzsch), the coefficients of linear thermal expansion of epoxy polymers were experimentally determined in a wide temperature range. Analysis of elastic-deformation properties was counducted with a dynamic mechanical analyzer DMA Q800 (TA Instruments). The values of the crosslink density of the studied epoxy polymers were also experimentally determined and a comparative analysis of the thermal expansion and heat capacity of polymers with different crosslink density was carried out. Thermophysical properties are shown to depend on the crosslink density of polymer in various physical states. Moisture expansion coefficient and parameters of water sorption process by polymers with different functionality based on a number of epoxy novolac resins are analyzed.

Keywords: coefficient of linear thermal expansion, heat capacity, crosslink density, epoxy resins, moisture expansion coefficient