Effect of zeolite filler on the cure and thermal characteristics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/4,4′-methylene dianiline system

The cure and thermal characteristics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/4,4'-methylene dianiline (MDA) system filled with natural zeolite were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA). Increment of zeolite content resulted in the decrement of the exothermic peak temperature and the heat of reaction, and the increment of the cure rate. Meanwhile, the thermal decomposition activation energy and T-d value decreased with the addition of zeolite. Those experimental results revealed that filler zeolite can catalyzes the curing reaction and decomposition of epoxy resin.