Week 5

This week our group went to the lab to make the modified resin with the help of  Emre Kinaci.  First, the hot water bath was prepared to 90° C.  The four components used to make the modified resin were:  200 g Cardolite NC-514 Epoxy Resin, 0.243 g Hydroquinone (inhibitor), 2.43 g AMC-2 (catalyst), and 43.03 g Methacrylic Acid. The components were combined in a boiling flask.  The flask was submerged in the hot water bath, starting the reaction.  The reaction proceeded for four hours.  GPC and FTIR testing were conducted on samples of the mixture before and after the reaction.  These tests showed the change in chemical structure, as expected.  The FTIR results showed the removal of the epoxy peak around 918 cm-1 and the methacrylate peak around 945 cm-1 remained as it was. The modified resin will give the composite stronger mechanical properties.