REACTION OF GLYCIDYL ETHERS WITH ALIPHATIC-ALCOHOLS IN THE PRESENCE OF BENZYL DIMETHYLAMINE

In the reaction of phenyl glycidyl ether with aliphatic alcohols in the presence of benzyl dimethylamine, four different oligomers are found at temperatures above 100-degrees-C. In the temperature range of 100-180-degrees-C, the length of oligomer chains decreases with increasing temperature. In bifunctional epoxide-alcohol systems the number of branched products increases simultaneously. These small branched oligomers are terminated by non-reactive end groups, preventing network formation above 140-degrees-C. At lower temperatures (< 60-degrees-C) the proportion of the addition mechanism exceeds 90%, alternating with a combined mechanism including the homopolymerization of glycidyl ether at 100-degrees-C. This mechanism yields the fastest gel times in corresponding bifunctional epoxide-alcohol systems. Above 100-degrees-C, gel times decrease again owing to hindered crosslinking in an oligomeric system with short, branched and non-reactive products.