Quantification of the amine value in aliphatic amine epoxy hardeners by using a reaction-based headspace gas chromatographic technique

Abstract

This paper reports an automated method for quantifying the amine value in aliphatic amine epoxy hardeners by reaction-based headspace gas chromatography. After aliphatic amine epoxy hardeners reacted with hydrochloric acid solution, the remaining hydrochloric acid was transferred to the headspace vial that contains sodium bicarbonate solution. After the complete reaction between the remaining hydrochloric acid and sodium bicarbonate, the carbon dioxide generated from the reaction was then detected by using headspace gas chromatography. The data showed that the reaction in the closed headspace vial can be completed in 10 min at 65 °C. The relative standard deviation of the reaction-based HS-GC method in the precision test was less than 2.78%, and the relative differences between the present method and the reference back-titration method were no more than 6.96%. The present reaction-based method is automated and efficient and can be a reliable tool for quantifying the amine value in aliphatic amine epoxy hardeners and related research.