INFLUENCE OF THE REACTION-MECHANISM ON NETWORK FORMATION IN AMINE-CURED N,N-DIGLYCIDYLAMINE EPOXY-RESINS

Epoxides based on diglycidylaniline (DGA) derivatives, i.e. DGA and N,N,N',N'-tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM), and diglycidylether of bisphenol A, (DGEBA) were cured with diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM). The critical ratio of functional groups, necessary for the gelation of non-stoichiometric systems, was determined in bulk and in dilute solutions and the influence of cyclization and reactivity of functional groups on network formation was investigated. The theory of branching processes used in the treatment of the structure build-up in DGEBA-amine systems was modified to include a more complicated mechanism of the reaction of DGA with amines. The theoretical prediction fits the experimental data on network formation.