Synthesis and characterization of a liquid oxygen-compatible epoxy resin

Abstract

The bromine element was introduced into an epoxy resin to improve the liquid oxygen compatibility of the epoxy resin. After curing using 4,4′-diamino diphenylmethane, the liquid oxygen compatibility of all specimens was measured by the liquid oxygen mechanical impact test (ASTM D2512-95). The results suggested that the bromine-modified epoxy resin (BEP) was compatible with liquid oxygen, whereas the bisphenol F epoxy resin (EP) had poor liquid oxygen compatibility. The results of thermogravimetric analysis indicated that the incorporation of tetrabromobisphenol A into EP could accelerate the second-stage thermal degradation of BEP, leading to improvement of the liquid oxygen compatibility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that the C–C/H groups on the surface of specimens could be oxidized to C–O–H/C and C=O groups during the impact process. The mechanism of bromine enhancement on the liquid oxygen compatibility of epoxy resin is proposed.