THERMAL-DEGRADATION OF P-NONYLPHENOL FORMALDEHYDE EPOXY-RESINS

Epoxy resins synthesized from p-nonylphenol formaldehyde novoiac resins in reaction with epichlorohydrin have been studied by thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis and pyrolysis in combination with gas chromatography. The epoxy resins investigated in the range of temperatures between 200 and 600-degrees show a complex degradation mechanism. The complexity of the reaction increases passing from the liquid resins to the solid resins, when the apparent thermal stability increases too. The organic decomposition products analysed include gases and liquids. They consist of C1-C4 saturated and unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbons, carbonylic compounds, ethers, aromatic hydrocarbons, phenol, cresols and higher phenols, respectively. Phenol and cresols are the main decomposition products evolved at temperatures below 350-degrees, while content of aromatic hydrocarbons becomes importantly at temperatures between 400 and 600-degrees.