l-Arginine as a Bio-Based Curing Agent for Epoxy Resins: Glass Transition Temperature, Rheology and Latency

The need for sustainable practices in the processing chain of fiber-reinforced thermosets has led to the development of bio-based epoxy resins and curing agents. As a contribution to sustainable composites, this study focuses on the glass transition temperature ([Formula: see text]), viscosity and latency of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol a (DGEBA) cured with l-arginine in the presence of a urea-based accelerator. These characteristics are decisive features for application as a matrix in fiber-reinforced polymer composites produced via prepreg technology in which low viscosity and sufficient latency, meaning low reactivity of the one-component system, are necessary. The homogeneous mixture of amino acid and epoxy resin was prepared via three-roll milling. Two formulations, Argopox-1 with 1 [Formula: see text] accelerator and Argopox-2.5 with [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text] accelerator, were prepared and parts of each formulation were stored at 22 °C and −18 °C, respectively. Both formulations were tested via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and small amplitude oscillatory shear rheology (SAOS) after 0 d, 30 d, 60 d, 90 d and 180 d of storage to determine the influence of accelerator weight fraction, storage temperature and storage period on the glass transition temperature of the uncured resin system [Formula: see text] , and their viscosity. The [Formula: see text] of the thermosets is about 100 °C. The DSC and SAOS measurements show that the [Formula: see text] of Argopox-1 shifts about 5 °C in 60 d, while its viscosity is still low enough to be processed in a prepreg production line. Furthermore, Argopox-1 is storable for at least 180 d at −18 °C without significant changes in its [Formula: see text] and viscosity. Consequently, Argopox-1 possesses a sufficiently high [Formula: see text] and adequate latency, as well as a low viscosity for application as prepreg matrix material.