Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis

Abstract The decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis is studied under variation of reaction temperature, decomposition duration and water volume using a batch reactor. Within the framework of a design of experiment, the process is evaluated by the gravimetric decomp...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Simon Backens, Arthur Konrad Wieland, Stefan Schmidt, Wilko Flügge, Lukas Friederici, Christopher Rüger
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13375-8
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849343678588387328
author Simon Backens
Arthur Konrad Wieland
Stefan Schmidt
Wilko Flügge
Lukas Friederici
Christopher Rüger
author_facet Simon Backens
Arthur Konrad Wieland
Stefan Schmidt
Wilko Flügge
Lukas Friederici
Christopher Rüger
author_sort Simon Backens
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis is studied under variation of reaction temperature, decomposition duration and water volume using a batch reactor. Within the framework of a design of experiment, the process is evaluated by the gravimetric decomposition of the epoxy resin clearly showing that temperature is the most important factor. Duration and water volume have only smaller positive effects. The mass loss mechanism of the cube-shaped specimens corresponds to a heterogeneous surface degradation where material is only lost from the outer areas. The determination of glass transition temperatures after the experiments demonstrates that the water hardly affects the center of the epoxy cubes. Therefore, a core-shrinking model is successfully applied for analysis of the decomposition kinetics. The product distribution in the aqueous phase reveals a large number of organic compounds. Higher temperatures, longer durations and lower water volumes lead to an increase in decomposition product complexity and concentrations, but the degradation pathways are apparently not affected.
format Article
id doaj-art-d963b148f2f44f759c7c8817cd6d8979
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-d963b148f2f44f759c7c8817cd6d89792025-08-20T03:42:53ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-13375-8Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysisSimon Backens0Arthur Konrad Wieland1Stefan Schmidt2Wilko Flügge3Lukas Friederici4Christopher Rüger5Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGPFraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGPFraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGPFraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering IGPJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre/Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of RostockJoint Mass Spectrometry Centre/Chair of Analytical Chemistry, University of RostockAbstract The decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis is studied under variation of reaction temperature, decomposition duration and water volume using a batch reactor. Within the framework of a design of experiment, the process is evaluated by the gravimetric decomposition of the epoxy resin clearly showing that temperature is the most important factor. Duration and water volume have only smaller positive effects. The mass loss mechanism of the cube-shaped specimens corresponds to a heterogeneous surface degradation where material is only lost from the outer areas. The determination of glass transition temperatures after the experiments demonstrates that the water hardly affects the center of the epoxy cubes. Therefore, a core-shrinking model is successfully applied for analysis of the decomposition kinetics. The product distribution in the aqueous phase reveals a large number of organic compounds. Higher temperatures, longer durations and lower water volumes lead to an increase in decomposition product complexity and concentrations, but the degradation pathways are apparently not affected.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13375-8Subcritical hydrolysisAnhydride-cured epoxy resinGlass transition temperatureCore-shrinking modelGas chromatographyMass spectrometry
spellingShingle Simon Backens
Arthur Konrad Wieland
Stefan Schmidt
Wilko Flügge
Lukas Friederici
Christopher Rüger
Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
Scientific Reports
Subcritical hydrolysis
Anhydride-cured epoxy resin
Glass transition temperature
Core-shrinking model
Gas chromatography
Mass spectrometry
title Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
title_full Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
title_fullStr Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
title_full_unstemmed Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
title_short Analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
title_sort analysis of the decomposition of an anhydride cured epoxy resin by subcritical hydrolysis
topic Subcritical hydrolysis
Anhydride-cured epoxy resin
Glass transition temperature
Core-shrinking model
Gas chromatography
Mass spectrometry
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-13375-8
work_keys_str_mv AT simonbackens analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis
AT arthurkonradwieland analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis
AT stefanschmidt analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis
AT wilkoflugge analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis
AT lukasfriederici analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis
AT christopherruger analysisofthedecompositionofananhydridecuredepoxyresinbysubcriticalhydrolysis