Abstract: Trimethylolmelamine-silicon (TMMSi) was prepared via the polycondensation reaction of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and trimethylolmelamine (TMM), which was synthesized by melamine and formaldehyde. The cured epoxy resins containing TMMSi were prepared via in situ curing of the bisphenol-A type epoxy resin and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane with TMMSi. Thermogravimetric analysis, differential scanning calorimetry, and limited oxygen index determination were carried out to characterize the cured products. It was found that the flame ratardancy of the cured epoxy resins with TMMSi was remarkablely improved, although thermal property was not improved obviously and the glass transition temperature changed less than those of the cured epoxy resins containing TMM. When the content of TMMSi was 15 phr, limited oxygen index was 29.6 %, higher than that of neat epoxy resin by 40 %.

Key words: curing, epoxy resin, trimethylolmelamine, tetraethoxysilane, thermal property, flame retardancy