Preparation and epoxy curing of p-nonylphenol/dicyclopentadiene adducts

Abstract

Phenol/dicyclopentadiene adducts were prepared from the BF3-catalyzed reaction of p-nonylphenol and dicyclopentadiene at molar ratios of 2 : 1 and 3 : 2. These dicyclopentadiene-derived novolac products contain tricyclodecane and multiple phenol functionalities. In curing with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A, the polymer properties were compared with those cured with formaldehyde novolac or Jeffamine D-400 amine. When p-nonylphenol/dicyclopentadiene adducts were mixed with other commercially available curing agents such as Jeffamine D-400 amine, the tricyclodecane functionality was introduced into the resulting epoxy network. The flexibility of the cured resin was improved due to the presence of the tricyclodecane moiety in the polymer structure. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.