Time-dependent properties of epoxy resin with imidazolium ionic liquid

This study investigates creep and viscoelastic behavior of the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) epoxy resin and triethylenetetramine (TETA) system containing an imidazolium ionic liquid (IL), the 1-n-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (C(4)MImCl). Different time-dependent analysis methods are studied using data from tensile creep, tensile creep/recovery, and three-point and four-point flexural creep tests of epoxy with 1.0 or 4.0 phr of IL. From the results, the composition containing 1.0 phr of C(4)MImCl, cured at 60 degrees C, presented greater viscoelasticity and crosslink density compared to compositions cured at 30 and 40 degrees C, which was attributed to higher free volume and higher molecular mobility induced by the presence of the IL. In tensile creep tests using the stepped isostress method (SSM), no important degrading effects were found after the addition of 1.0 phr of IL over long time periods. This composition also showed the best overall performance in flexural SSM creep tests.