Synthesis of ferrocene-containing epoxy polymers

Abstract

Ferrocene-containing epoxy polymers were synthesized by crosslinking of diglycidy1 ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with ferrocene derivatives, namely 1,1'-bis(hydroxyethy1) ferrocene and 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid. Maleic anhydride (MA) was used in the system of DGEBA/1,1'-bis(hydroxyethyl) ferrocene. The catalyst employed was tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (Bu4NOH). Infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry were employed to determine the crosslinking reaction conditions. Physical and thermal properties of the polymers were studied by dynamic mechanical analysis and thermogravimetric analysis. The polymers obtained from 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid exhibited higher glass transition temperatures (Tg) than the polymers obtained from 1,1'-bis(hydroxyethyl) ferrocene. Upon heating at 250ํC for 48 hours, the polymers obtained from 1,1'-bis(hydroxyethyl) ferrocene showed higher thermal stability than those obtained from 1,1'-ferrocenedicarboxylic acid.