Synthesis and characterization of epoxy methacrylate of (E)-1,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one and its jute/glass composites

Epoxy methacrylate of (E)-1,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one (EMC) has been synthesized by condensing 1 equivi. (318g) epoxy resin of (E)-1,3-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)prop-2-en-1-one and 2.1 equivi. (181g) methacrylic acid using 10 ml triethyl amine as a catalyst, 2.5 g hydroquinone as an inhibitor and 350 ml tetrahydrofuran as a solvent at reflux temperature for 1-7 h. Styrene was used as a reactive diluent. The structure of EMC was supported by FTIR and 1H NMR techniques. EMC showed endothermic transition at 118 °C and 307 °C, respectively due to melting and crosslinking followed by decomposition reaction and EMCS showed endothermic transitions at 81 °C and 255 °C due to branched and uncrosslinked EMCS and some physical change. EMC and EMCS are thermally stable up to about 265 and 332, respectively. EMC followed two steps degradation kinetics, while EMCS followed single step degradation kinetics. Jute and glass composites of EMCS were fabricated by hand lay-up technique followed by compression molding under 20 bar pressure and at 120 °C for 4 h. J-EMCS and G-EMCS showed 22.7 and 182 MPa tensile strength; 10.9 and 156.5 MPa flexural strength; 3.1 and 1.6 kV mm-1 electric strength; and 2.2 x 1012 and 2.8 x 1011 Ohm cm volume resistivity. Both J-EMCS and G-EMCS showed excellent hydrolytic stability even in harsh acidic and saline environments and also in boiling water. Observed equilibrium water content at 35 °C for J-EMCS and G-EMCS in water, 10% of aq. NaCl, and 10% of aq. HCl are 8.8, 10.8, and 8.7% ; 5.8, 4.6, and 4.7%, respectively. The composites may be useful for low load bearing housing units, and in electrical, electronic and marine fields.