The preparation, properties, functionality of a eugenol-based epoxy resin for bronze ware repairment

A high-performance, multi-functional eugenol-based epoxy resin (EBER) was successfully prepared. The mechanical property, photochromism and fluorescence of EBER were investigated by tensile test, cyclic tensile test, ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectrophotometer and fluorescence spectrometer. The results of tensile test and cyclic tensile test revealed that EBER has good mechanical property, even when it is compared with commercial epoxy resin. The UV - vis spectra displayed that EBER has photochromic functionality. After EBER was exposed to UV, the color of it will change from yellow to green, so the curing condition can be observed according to its color. The fluorescence spectrum exhibited that EBER has fluorescence. In the dark and under UV, EBER will display a jade-green fluorescence, which can help people observe the condition of the adhesive clearly. More importantly, this photochromic fluorescent EBER was prepared from raw materials without dye and fluorescent agent, thereby can solve a lot of problems. This work provides a new idea and method for preparing high-performance, multi-functional bio-based epoxy resin, and has a potential application in bronze ware repairment.