Synthesis, molecular interactions, and antioxidant properties of a new terpolymer: formation of epoxy-based terpolymer composite on glass

A new chloroacetophenone-based acid-catalyzed terpolymer has been synthesized from vanillylidenacetone/4-hydroxystyryl methyl ketone, formaldehyde, and chloroacetophenone. Characterization of the terpolymer was done by using FTIR and ¹H NMR data. Thermal stability/behavior of new terpolymers determined by DSC and TGA. Ultrasonic properties, including ultrasonic velocity, density, adiabatic compressibility, specific acoustic impedance, viscosity, intermolecular free length, and relaxation time, were studied successfully in DMSO. The average molecular weight of the polymer has been reported. The antioxidant property of acetophenone-based terpolymer is reportedly against DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), with a 1.66 mg/mL IC₅₀ value. The synthesized terpolymer was used as an epoxy curing agent in a 50% weight ratio, along with DGEBA (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) resin at 453.15 K. The thermal stability of the epoxy-polymer composite was investigated using a TGA analysis. Chemical stability of the composite was estimated using strong acid (concentrated HCl), saturated NaOH, and NaCl solution. Surface morphology of the epoxy composite was examined using SEM analysis.