Additive Manufacturing of Crosslinkable Amine-Epoxy Coatings

Presenter: Julie Le

Faculty Sponsor: Jessica Schiffman

School: UMass Amherst

Research Area: Chemistry and Materials Science

Session: Poster Session 1, 10:30 AM - 11:15 AM, 163, C11

ABSTRACT

Polymer powder coatings hold great potential for eliminating volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions and enhancing long-term durability. In this study, an amine-functionalized epoxy coating system was developed using core-shell structures synthesized via suspension polymerization. This system was comprised of (1) amine particles (AP) with a phenalkamine core and a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) shell, and (2) epoxy particles (EP) with an epoxy core and a polyurea shell. Particle size was investigated as a function of surfactant concentration to achieve the desired size. Chemical composition was analyzed using proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) to quantify amine and epoxy content, respectively. A force-activated approach was employed to manufacture the crosslinked films from AP and EP, where their amine-to-epoxy molar ratios were controlled. Gel content measurements in dimethylformamide (DMF) indicated extensive crosslinking. Tensile testing was used to examine the overall mechanical behavior of the films, while atomic force microscopy (AFM) provided localized measurements of Young’s modulus. A higher modulus was observed for films cured at 70oC compared to those cured at 20oC, aligning with their degree of crosslinking. This study presents an optimistic direction for long-lasting, green amine-epoxy coatings with tunable properties, such as particle size and crosslinking degree, for future applications in industries like aerospace and healthcare.


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