Release Behavior of Benzimidazole-Intercalated α-Zirconium Phosphate as a Latent Thermal Initiator in the Reaction of Epoxy Resin

The intercalation compound of benzimidazole with α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP) was evaluated as a latent thermal initiator in the reaction of glycidyl phenyl ether (GPE) and hexahydro-4-methylphthalic anhydride (MHHPA). No reaction occurred at 60 °C after 1 h. Upon increasing the temperature to 140 °C, the conversion reached 97% after 1 h. The deintercalation ratio of Bim from the intercalation compound of benzimidazole with α-zirconium phosphate (α-ZrP·Bim) was measured in the reaction of the GPE-MHHPA system. The deintercalation ratio increased upon increasing the temperature, reaching 97% at 120 °C after 1 h. The storage stability at 25 °C and 40 °C in the reaction of GPE-MHHPA was tested and was found to be maintained for 14 days at 25 °C. The intercalation compound of α-ZrP·Bim can effectively serve as a latent thermal initiator in the reaction of GPE-MHHPA.