Mechanistic modeling of the epoxy-amine reaction - Model derivations

A series of kinetic models of the epoxy-amine addition have been derived based on the assumption that its rate-determining step overcomes the formation of an intermediate equilibrium epoxy-hydroxyl complex. The model fundamentals and the main approximations have been discussed. An alternative mechanistic description within the classical scheme has been also presented. In spite of the ability of the last to describe the experiments almost perfectly, it has been considered that more reliable model predictions will have been obtained by following the intermediate equilibrium complex schemes. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.