Sayed Morteza Mozaffari - Department of Engineering & Technology, University of Mazandaran, Babolsar, Iran
Mohammad Hosain Beheshty - Department of Composites, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, Tehran, Iran

Solid epoxy resins are widely used in the coating industry. The Longer chains in these types of resins lead to more distances between the cross-link, and as a result, increases the flexibility and toughness of the coating. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) were used for characterization of this masterbatch containing the curing agent.The results revealed that although the solid epoxy was in contact with imidazole curing agent for a long time, it was still thermoplastic. Only likely anionic polymerization increased the chain length of solid epoxy resin so that its melting temperature of solid epoxy is increased. As the masterbatch was heated to the first stage, melting temperature of solid epoxy increased in masterbatch. However, after heating the masterbatch in the third stage, there was no melting temperature and solid epoxy resin was cross-linked.

Solid epoxy, Coating, Masterbatch, curing agent, 1-methylimidazole.