Chemical degradation of TGDDM/DDS epoxy resin in supercritical 1-propanol: Promotion effect of hydrogenation on thermolysis

Chemical decomposition of an epoxy system made of tetraglycidyl 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS) in supercritical 1-propanol was investigated under different reaction temperature and time. The GC–MS results suggested that the epoxy system was decomposed to the products including aniline, N-propylbenzenamine, and 4,4′-diaminodiphenylsulfone. The change of the products' yield with time was measured by GC . In addition, the formed chars were characterized by SEM, elemental analysis , Raman and XRD . The results implied the presence of some graphite microcrystals and disordered structure in the solid residue. Upon the addition of KOH, the Guerbet reaction of 1-propanol was promoted to generate more hydrogen. A possible free-radical reaction mechanism was proposed for the depolymerization of TGDDM/DDS epoxy resin . Hydrogenation of radicals had a promotion effect on thermolysis of TGDDM/DDS epoxy resin.