Modification of the resistance of two epoxy resins to accelerated weathering using calcium sulfate as a photostabilizer

Epoxy-timber composites have received increasing attention during the last decades because there are many advantages related to their uses as construction materials in applications such as timber bridges. However, the durability of epoxy-timber composites under outdoor conditions has become a concern for many epoxy resins. This study evaluated the chemical, thermal, and mechanical properties of two cured epoxies, the product of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A with 2,4-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine (DGEBA-TMDA) and the analogous resin prepared with the hydrogenated diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (HDGEBA-TMDA), each mixed with 2 wt. % calcium sulfate (CS). We hypothesized that the use of CS, as an inorganic UV absorber, could decrease undesirable effects arising from exposure to UV light, moisture, and extreme temperatures.
An accelerated aging chamber simulated natural weathering for 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 months. Chemical changes in cured epoxy systems over time in the presence and absence of CS fillers were determined using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermal degradation profiles before and after exposure to accelerated weathering were followed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The glass transition temperatures (T_g) before and after accelerated weathering were measured, and the effect of accelerated weathering on the surface morphology of the epoxy systems was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). In the presence of CS, after 6 months accelerated weathering the tensile strength of DGEBA-TMDA reduced by 23.8 ± 2.4%, compared to 46.5 ± 5.5% in its absence, while the corresponding values for HDGEBA-TMDA were 21.4 ± 2.1% and 28.7 ± 1.8%.