Effect of functionalized kaolinite on the curing kinetics of cycloaliphatic epoxy/anhydride system

Silane grafted kaolinite (K-GS) was prepared through grinding kaolinite and then grafting with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. The influence of K-GS on the curing kinetics of cycloaliphatic epoxy resin was studied by non-isothermal differential scanning calorimetry at different heating rates. The reaction activation energy (E-a) was determined based on the Flynn-Wall-Ozawa method. The results of dynamic differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) kinetic analysis show that the surface hydroxyl groups of clay decreases the E-a from 70.6 kJ mol(-1) to 62.8 kJ mol(-1) and accelerates the curing reaction of the epoxy resin. The silane grafting reactions consume the surface hydroxyl groups of kaolinite and lead to a decrease in the catalytic efficiency of K-GS in the curing of epoxy resin. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.