Curing Kinetics of DGEBA/UF Resin System Used as Laminates in Impregnated Decorative Paper

Cure reaction of an epoxy system consisting of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A(DGEBA) and urea formaldehyde (UF) resin as curing agent was studied indifferent ratios by using FTIR and non-isothermal DSC techniques. The rate ofepoxide conversion was determined by measuring the reduction of epoxide groupabsorption peak at 916 cm-1 during curing. The rate of epoxide conversion depends onthe weight ratio of DGEBA/UF and also on the temperature of cure reaction. Activationenergy (Ea) of cure reaction for DGEBA/UF (50/50, wt%) system was obtained by usingthe data from non-isothermal DSC technique and Kissinger and Ozawa equations. TheEa values obtained from both methods were close and in the range of 130-132 kJ/mol.The Ea values measured by isoconversional method showed dependence on thedegree of conversion (α) and reached a maximum value of 170 kJ/mol at α = 0.4.DGEBA/UF systems were used for paper impregnation and lamination of theimpregnated papers on the particle board. Degree of curing, porosity degree andresistance to gases of the laminated products were investigated according to industrialprocedure. The best conditions of DGEBA/UF ratio, impregnation process andlamination process are also reported.