The control and optimization of the curing process of epoxy coatings: a case of poly(glycidoxy siloxane) resins

Abstract

Abstract Coatings from poly(glycidoxy siloxane) resins were developed and their mechanical properties examined. Three different resins with varying numbers of methyl siloxane and glycidyl siloxane units were tested. Crystallinity was found to be a very important indicator of the mechanical properties of coatings, as the parameters such as cupping and hardness were linearly dependent on the degree of crystallinity of coatings. The method involving the spectrophotometric determination of unbounded amine curing agent was successfully applied as a way of optimizing the curing process both for expected mechanical properties and for ecological aspect. It was found that the resin with 50 methyl siloxane and 25 glycidyl siloxane units was the most appropriate for technological use because of the preferred mechanical properties and stability of technological parameters. Interestingly, this type of resin was characterized by the lowest degree of crystallinity. The curing conditions leading to the optimal product corresponded to 30 min of curing at 120°C or 20 min at 140°C. Under such conditions, the amount of released unbounded amine was the lowest. It was also found that poly(glycidoxy) siloxane resins may be ecologically valuable since the release of amine from this type of resins is smaller than that from a typical epoxy resin.