17th Annual Student Research Conference
Science
Lactide Containing Epoxy Thermosets
Nicholas W. Harbison
Dr. Dennis W. Smith (Clemson University), Ms. Nilmini Abayasinghe (Clemson University), and Dr. Anne E. Moody, Faculty Mentors
Lactide, the cyclic dimer of lactic acid, is derived from annually renewable resources such as corn. In the present investigation epoxy resins were reacted with lactide to obtain a new class of thermoset materials. Lactide and amino terminated poly(propyleneglycol) or lactide and 1,1,1-Tris(4-hydrozyphenyl)ethane (THPE) was combined with an epoxy resin and cured. Several formulations were found which incorporate lactide quantitatively and gave network products ranging from low Tg rubbers to hard resins. Characterization of these materials by DSC, TGA, and FTIR will be presented.
Keywords: polymer, lactide, epoxy resin, thermoset
Topic(s):Chemistry
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: 26-28
Location: OP Lobby & Atrium
Time: 1:15