Improvement of Thermophysical Characteristics of Polymer Coatings for Protecting Water Transport by Using a Mixture of Discrete Organic Fibers

Abstract This work presents the technological aspects of the reinforcement of the thermosetting binder to improve the thermophysical characteristics of polymeric materials and protective coatings based on them. Epoxy binder ED-20 was used to form polymer materials, which were polymerized with polyethylene polyamine (PEPA) in the ratio: 100 parts by weight of ED-20 epoxy oligomer and 10 parts by weight of PEPA hardener. A mixture of discrete organic fibers with the content of q = 0.25-2.00 wt.% was used to improve the thermophysical properties of polymer materials. The key parameters for determining the temperature range for the future operation of the designed composite materials without changing their properties were defined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The maximum temperature of the mass loss beginning is Т0 = 624.0°K; the relative mass loss is εm = 65.7%; the initial temperature of the exoeffect is Тn = 475.5°K; and the maximum temperature of the exoeffect peak is Tmax = 545.5°K. The mathematical calculation of the activation energy of thermal destruction was performed to determine the resistance to the degradation of chemical bonds under the temperature influence. It has been proven that composites filled with a discrete organic fiber mixture with the content of q = 0.75 wt.% are characterized by the maximum activation energy (Ea = 167.2 kJ/mol), which indicates the thermal stability of reinforced composites.