Benzylated polyamine curing agents

1. A curing agent composition comprising at least one benzylated polyamine compound, the benzylated polyamine compound being a reaction product of a benzaldehyde compound or benzyl halide compound and a polyamine according to the following formula:

H2N—CH2-A-CH2-NH2

where A is a phenylene group or a cyclohexylene group; and wherein the curing agent composition further includes at least one multifunctional amine having three or more active amine hydrogens.

2. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the benzylated polyamine compound is selected from the group consisting of benzylated orthoxylylenediamine, benzylated metaxylylenediamine, benzylated para xylylenediamine, 1,2-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, and combinations thereof.

3. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the at least one benzylated polyamine compound has the following formula:

where RA is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; RB, RC, and RD are independently RA or a hydrogen atom; A is a phenylene group or a cyclohexylene group, provided that the benzylated polyamine compound has more than two active amine hydrogen atoms.

4. The curing agent of claim 3 , wherein RA and RC are benzyl or vanillyl.

5. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the benzaldehyde compound includes a substituted benzaldehyde according to the formula PhCHO, where Ph is a moiety including an aromatic ring, wherein Ph is substituted with one or more of halogen atoms, C1-C4 alkyl, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, hydroxyl or cyano groups.

6. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the benzaldehyde compound is benzaldehyde or vanillin.

7. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the benzyl halide compound is selected from the group consisting of benzyl fluoride, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide or benzyl iodide.

8. The curing agent of claim 1 , wherein the benzyl halide compound includes a substituted benzyl group according to the formula PhCH2-, where Ph is a moiety including an aromatic ring, wherein Ph is substituted with one or more of halogen atoms, C1-C4 alkyl, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, hydroxyl or cyano groups.

9. A method for forming a curing agent composition comprising:

contacting a benzaldehyde compound or benzyl halide compound and a polyamine compound according to the following formula:

H2N—CH2-A-CH2-NH2

wherein A is a phenylene group or a cyclohexylene group;

reacting the benzaldehyde compound or benzyl halide compound and the polyamine compound under conditions sufficient to form a benzylated polyamine compound; wherein the curing agent composition further includes at least one multifunctional amine having three or more active amine hydrogens.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzylated polyamine compound is selected from the group consisting of benzylated orthoxylylenediamine, benzylated metaxylylenediamine, benzylated para xylylenediamine, 1,2-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,3-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, 1,4-bis(aminomethyl)cyclohexane, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the at least one benzylated polyamine compound has the following formula:

where RA is a substituted or unsubstituted benzyl group; RB, RC, and RD are independently RA or a hydrogen atom; A is a phenylene group or a cyclohexylene group, provided that the benzylated polyamine compound has more than two active amine hydrogen atoms.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein RA and RC are benzyl or vanillyl.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzaldehyde compound includes a substituted benzaldehyde according to the formula PhCHO, where Ph is a moiety including an aromatic ring, wherein Ph is substituted with one or more of halogen atoms, C1-C4 alkyl, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, hydroxyl or cyano groups.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzaldehyde compound is benzaldehyde or vanillin.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzyl halide compound is selected from the group consisting of benzyl fluoride, benzyl chloride, benzyl bromide or benzyl iodide.

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzyl halide compound includes a substituted benzyl group according to the formula PhCH2-, where Ph is a moiety including an aromatic ring, wherein Ph is substituted with one or more of halogen atoms, C1-C4 alkyl, methoxy, ethoxy, amino, hydroxyl or cyano groups.

17. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzaldehyde compound and the polyamine compound are reacted in a molar reactant ratio of the benzaldehyde compound to the polyamine compound of 1:1 to 1.6:1.

18. The method of claim 9 , wherein the benzyl halide compound and the polyamine compound are reacted in a molar reactant ratio of the benzyl halide compound to the polyamine compound of 1.2:1 to about 1.5:1.

19. An amine-epoxy composition comprising the contact product of:

a curing agent composition comprising at least one benzylated polyamine compound, the benzylated polyamine compound being a reaction product of a benzaldehyde compound or benzyl halide compound and a polyamine according to the following formula:

H2N—CH2-A-CH2-NH2

where A is a phenylene group or a cyclohexylene group; and

an epoxy composition comprising at least one multifunctional epoxy resin; wherein the curing agent composition further includes at least one multifunctional amine having three or more active amine hydrogens.

20. An article comprising the amine-epoxy composition of claim 19 .

21. The article of claim 20 , wherein the article is selected from the group consisting of adhesive, coating, primer, sealant, curing compound, construction product, flooring product, and composite product.

22. The composition of claim 1 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, an aromatic amine, a poly(alkylene oxide) diamine or triamine, a Mannich base derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine; a polyamide derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a dimer fatty acid, or a mixture of a dimer fatty acid and fatty acid; an amidoamine derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a fatty acid; and an amine adduct derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A or bisphenol F, or an epoxy novolac resin, and any combination thereof.

23. The method of claim 9 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, an aromatic amine, a poly(alkylene oxide) diamine or triamine, a Mannich base derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine; a polyamide derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a dimer fatty acid, or a mixture of a dimer fatty acid and fatty acid; an amidoamine derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a fatty acid; and an amine adduct derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A or bisphenol F, or an epoxy novolac resin, and any combination thereof.

24. The composition of claim 19 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, an aromatic amine, a poly(alkylene oxide) diamine or triamine, a Mannich base derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine; a polyamide derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a dimer fatty acid, or a mixture of a dimer fatty acid and fatty acid; an amidoamine derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a fatty acid; and an amine adduct derivative of an aliphatic amine, a cycloaliphatic amine, or an aromatic amine with a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A or bisphenol F, or an epoxy novolac resin, and any combination thereof.

25. The composition of claim 1 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, pentaethylenehexamine, polypropyleneamines, aminopropylated ethylenediamines, aminopropylated propylenediamines, 1,6-hexanediamine, 3,3,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine, propylenediamine, dipropylenetriamine, tripropylenetetramine, N-3-aminopropyl ethylenediamine, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N-3-aminopropyl-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane,

1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 1,3-diaminocyclohexane, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, hydrogenated ortho-toluenediamine, hydrogenated meta-toluenediamine, metaxylylene diamine, hydrogenated metaxylylene diamine, isophorone diamine, norbornane diamines, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 2,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, a mixture of methylene bridged poly(cyclohexyl-aromatic)amines, and combinations thereof.

26. The method of claim 9 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, pentaethylenehexamine, polypropyleneamines, aminopropylated ethylenediamines, aminopropylated propylenediamines, 1,6-hexanediamine, 3,3,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine, propylenediamine, dipropylenetriamine, tripropylenetetramine, N-3-aminopropyl ethylenediamine, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N-3-aminopropyl-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 1,3-diaminocyclohexane, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, hydrogenated ortho-toluenediamine, hydrogenated meta-toluenediamine, metaxylylene diamine, hydrogenated metaxylylene diamine, isophorone diamine, norbornane diamines, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 2,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, a mixture of methylene bridged poly(cyclohexyl-aromatic)amines, and combinations thereof.

27. The composition of claim 19 wherein the multifunctional amine comprises at least one member selected from the group consisting of ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine, triethylenetetraamine, pentaethylenehexamine, polypropyleneamines, aminopropylated ethylenediamines, aminopropylated propylenediamines, 1,6-hexanediamine, 3,3,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 3,5,5-trimethyl-1,6-hexanediamine, 2-methyl-1,5-pentanediamine, propylenediamine, dipropylenetriamine, tripropylenetetramine, N-3-aminopropyl ethylenediamine, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)ethylenediamine, N-3-aminopropyl-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N′-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, N,N,N′-tris(3-aminopropyl)-1,3-diaminopropane, 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 1,3-diaminocyclohexane, 1,4-diaminocyclohexane, hydrogenated ortho-toluenediamine, hydrogenated meta-toluenediamine, metaxylylene diamine, hydrogenated metaxylylene diamine, isophorone diamine, norbornane diamines, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 4,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, 2,4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane, a mixture of methylene bridged poly(cyclohexyl-aromatic)amines, and combinations thereof.