scholarly journals Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Experimental Studies on the Thermomechanical Properties of Epoxy Resin with Different Anhydride Curing Agents

Polymers ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kexin Fu ◽  
Qing Xie ◽  
Fangcheng LÜ ◽  
Qijun Duan ◽  
Xinjie Wang ◽  
...  

An investigation of the relationship between the microstructure parameters and thermomechanical properties of epoxy resin can provide a scientific basis for the optimization of epoxy systems. In this paper, the thermomechanical properties of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA)/methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride (MTHPA) and DGEBA/nadic anhydride (NA) were calculated and tested by the method of molecular dynamics (MD) simulation combined with experimental verification. The effects of anhydride curing agents on the thermomechanical properties of epoxy resin were investigated. The results of the simulation and experiment showed that the thermomechanical parameters (glass transition temperature (Tg) and Young’s modulus) of the DGEBA/NA system were higher than those of the DGEBA/MTHPA system. The simulation results had a good agreement with the experimental data, which verified the accuracy of the crosslinking model of epoxy resin cured with anhydride curing agents. The microstructure parameters of the anhydride-epoxy system were analyzed by MD simulation, including bond-length distribution, synergy rotational energy barrier, cohesive energy density (CED) and fraction free volume (FFV). The results indicated that the bond-length distribution of the MTHPA and NA was the same except for C–C bonds. Compared with the DGEBA/MTHPA system, the DGEBA/NA system had a higher synergy rotational energy barrier and CED, and lower FFV. It can be seen that the slight change of curing agent structure has a significant effect on the synergy rotational energy barrier, CED and FFV, thus affecting the Tg and modulus of the system.

2021 ◽  
pp. 095400832110323
Author(s):  
Jianwen Zhang ◽  
Dongwei Wang ◽  
Lujia Wang ◽  
Wanwan Zuo ◽  
Xiaohua Ma ◽  
...  

In this article, pure epoxy resin and silica–epoxy nanocomposite models were established to investigate the effects of hyperbranched polyester on microstructure and thermomechanical properties of epoxy resin through molecular dynamics simulation. Results revealed that the composite of silica can improve the thermomechanical properties of nanocomposites, including the glass transition temperature, thermal conductivity, and elastic modulus. Moreover, the thermomechanical properties were further enhanced through chemical modification on the silica surface, where the effectiveness was the best through grafting hyperbranched polyester on the silica surface. Compared with pure epoxy resin, the glass transition temperature of silica–epoxy composite modified by silica grafted with hyperbranched polyester increased by 38 K. The thermal conductivity increased with the increase of temperature and thermal conductivity at room temperature increased to 0.4171 W/(m·K)−1 with an increase ratio of 94.3%. Young’s modulus, volume modulus, and shear modulus all fluctuated as temperature rise with a down overall trend. They increased by 44.68%, 29.52%, and 36.65%, respectively, when compared with pure epoxy resin. At the same time, the thermomechanical properties were closely related to the microstructure such as fractional free volume (FFV), mean square displacement (MSD), and binding energy. Silica surface modification by grafting hyperbranched polyester reduced the FFV value and MSD value most and strengthened the combination of silica and epoxy resin matrix the best, resulting in the best thermomechanical properties.


2006 ◽  
Vol 05 (01) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
JIHUA GOU ◽  
BIN FAN ◽  
GANGBING SONG ◽  
AURANGZEB KHAN

In the processing of carbon nanotube/polymer composites, the interactions between the nanotube and polymer matrix will occur at the molecular level. Understanding their interactions before curing is crucial for nanocomposites processing. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to reveal molecular interactions between (10, 10) single-walled nanotube and two kinds of epoxy resin systems. The two kinds of resin systems were EPON 862/EPI-CURE W curing agent (DETDA) and DGEBA (diglycidylether of bisphenol A)diethylenetriamine (DETA) curing agent. The MD simulation results show that the EPON 862, DETDA and DGEBA molecules had strong attractive interactions with single-walled nanotubes and their molecules changed their conformation to align their aromatic rings parallel to the nanotube surface due to π-stacking effect, whereas the DETA molecule had a repulsive interaction with the single-walled nanotubes. The interaction energies of the molecular systems were also calculated. Furthermore, an affinity index (AI) of the average distance between the atoms of the resin molecule and nanotube surface was defined to quantify the affinities between the nanotubes and resin molecules. The MD simulation results show that the EPON 862/EPI-CURE W curing agent system has good affinities with single-walled nanotubes.


Author(s):  
Salam Pradeep Singh ◽  
Iftikar Hussain ◽  
Bolin Kumar Konwar ◽  
Ramesh Chandra Deka ◽  
Chingakham Brajakishor Singh

Aim and Objective: To evaluate a set of seventy phytochemicals for their potential ability to bind the inhibitor of nuclear factor kappaB kinase beta (IKK-β) which is a prime target for cancer and inflammatory diseases. Materials and Methods: Seventy phytochemicals were screened against IKK-β enzyme using DFT-based molecular docking technique and the top docking hits were carried forward for molecular dynamics (MD) simulation protocols. The adme-toxicity analysis was also carried out for the top docking hits. Results: Sesamin, matairesinol and resveratrol were found to be the top docking hits with a total score of -413 kJ/mol, -398.11 kJ/mol and 266.73 kJ/mol respectively. Glu100 and Gly102 were found to be the most common interacting residues. The result from MD simulation observed a stable trajectory with a binding free energy of -107.62 kJ/mol for matairesinol, -120.37 kJ/mol for sesamin and -40.56 kJ/mol for resveratrol. The DFT calculation revealed the stability of the compounds. The ADME-Toxicity prediction observed that these compounds fall within the permissible area of Boiled-Egg and it does not violate any rule for pharmacological criteria, drug-likeness etc. Conclusion: The study interprets that dietary phytochemicals are potent inhibitors of IKK-β enzyme with favourable binding affinity and less toxic effects. In fact, there is a gradual rise in the use of plant-derived molecules because of its lesser side effects compared to chemotherapy. The study has also provided an insight by which the phytochemicals inhibited the IKK-β enzyme. The investigation would also provide in understanding the inhibitory mode of certain dietary phytochemicals in treating cancer.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 282
Author(s):  
Yogeshwaran Krishnan ◽  
Mohammad Reza Ghaani ◽  
Arnaud Desmedt ◽  
Niall J. English

The inter-cage hopping in a type II clathrate hydrate with different numbers of H2 and D2 molecules, from 1 to 4 molecules per large cage, was studied using a classical molecular dynamics simulation at temperatures of 80 to 240 K. We present the results for the diffusion of these guest molecules (H2 or D2) at all of the different occupations and temperatures, and we also calculated the activation energy as the energy barrier for the diffusion using the Arrhenius equation. The average occupancy number over the simulation time showed that the structures with double and triple large-cage H2 occupancy appeared to be the most stable, while the small cages remained with only one guest molecule. A Markov model was also calculated based on the number of transitions between the different cage types.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
Qiang Wang ◽  
Qizhong Tang ◽  
Sen Tian

AbstractMolecular dynamics (MD) analysis of methane hydrate is important for the application of methane hydrate technology. This study investigated the microstructure changes of sI methane hydrate and the laws of stress–strain evolution under the condition of compression and tension by using MD simulation. This study further explored the mechanical property and stability of sI methane hydrate under different stress states. Results showed that tensile and compressive failures produced an obvious size effect under a certain condition. At low temperature and high pressure, most of the clathrate hydrate maintained a stable structure in the tensile fracture process, during which only a small amount of unstable methane broke the structure, thereby, presenting a free-motion state. The methane hydrate cracked when the system reached the maximum stress in the loading process, in which the maximum compressive stress is larger than the tensile stress under the same experimental condition. This study provides a basis for understanding the microscopic stress characteristics of methane hydrate.


Author(s):  
Guo Li ◽  
Peng Hu ◽  
Wen Luo ◽  
Jianzhu Zhang ◽  
Huahua Yu ◽  
...  

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2013
Author(s):  
Zhong Wu ◽  
Jingyun Chen ◽  
Qifeng Li ◽  
Da-Hai Xia ◽  
Yida Deng ◽  
...  

By modifying the bonding of graphene (GR) and Fe3O4, a stable structure of GR-Fe3O4, namely magnetic GR, was obtained. Under the induction of a magnetic field, it can be orientated in an epoxy resin (EP) matrix, thus preparing EP/GR-Fe3O4 composites. The effects of the content of GR and the degree of orientation on the thermal conductivity of the composites were investigated, and the most suitable Fe3O4 load on GR was obtained. When the mass ratio of GR and Fe3O4 was 2:1, the thermal conductivity could be increased by 54.8% compared with that of pure EP. Meanwhile, EP/GR-Fe3O4 composites had a better thermal stability, dynamic thermomechanical properties, and excellent electrical insulation properties, which can meet the requirements of electronic packaging materials.


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