Tetrafunctional epoxy resins: Modeling the curing kinetics based on FTIR spectroscopy data

✍ Scribed by Pellegrino Musto; Ezio Martuscelli; Giuseppe Ragosta; Pietro Russo; Paola Villano

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 229 KB
• Volume: 74
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0021-8995
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4628(19991017)74:3<532::aid-app8>3.0.co;2-q

✦ Synopsis

The curing kinetics of two thermosetting systems based on a tetrafunctional epoxy resin was investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Two formulations were studied, in which the hardener was an aromatic diamine and a carboxylic dianhydride, respectively. The quantitative evaluation of the epoxy conversion was based on spectra collected in the near-infrared range (8000 -4000 cm Ϫ1 ) as well as in the medium infrared range (4000 -400 cm Ϫ1 ). The kinetic parameters evaluated in the above frequency intervals were significantly different. The reasons for such a discrepancy are discussed critically. Several kinetic models, based on the widely employed Kamal approach, were applied to verify their predictive capability. Satisfactory results were obtained for the amine-cured system, particularly with a modified equation taking into account the autocatalytic nature of the process as well as a limiting diffusional effect. Less accurate results were achieved for the anhydride-cured system.