Kinetics of the epoxy-thiol click reaction initiated by a tertiary amine: Calorimetric study using monofunctional components

R. MEIZOSO LOUREIRO; T. CARBALLEIRA AMARELO; S. PAZ ABUIN; E. R. SOULÉ; R. J. J. WILLIAMS

THERMOCHIMICA ACTA

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2015 vol. 616 p. 79 - 86

0040-6031

An analysis of the kinetics of the epoxy-thiol reaction in a model stoichiometric system of monofunctional reagents, 3-mercaptopropionate (BMP) and phenylglycidylether (PGE) is reported. Benzyldimethylamine (BDMA) was employed as initiator in amounts ranging from 0.5 ? 2 wt %. These formulations showed a kinetic behavior qualitatively similar to that of commercial adhesives and coatings formulated for a room-temperature cure. Isothermal DSC scans revealed the existence of a relatively long induction period preceding a fast autocatalytic reaction step. Dynamic DSC scans showed that the reaction was shifted to a lower temperature range by increasing the storage period of the initial formulation at 20 ºC. This unusual kinetic behavior could be modeled assuming that thiolate anions, slowly generated during the induction period, initiated a fast autocatalytic propagation / proton transfer reaction. The kinetic model included a pseudo-steady state for the initiator concentration and an equilibrium reaction between epoxy and OH groups generated by reaction. A reasonable fitting of isothermal and dynamic DSC runs was achieved in a broad range of temperatures and amine concentrations. In particular, both the length of the induction time and the effect of the storage period were correctly predicted.