Determination of the optimum epoxy/curing agent ratio: A study of different kinetic parameters

What is it about?

Variation of the epoxy/curing agent ratio for a system containing a diglycidyl ether of a bisphenol A derivative epoxy resin and the isophorone diamine (3-aminomethyl-3,5,5- trimethylcyclohexylamine) was found to have a significant effect on the cure kinetic parameters. Determination of the optimum value of the epoxy/curing agent ratio was studied by means of differential scanning calorimetry. The method is based on the search for the maximum enthalpy change'. It was found that this maximum corresponds to a 100/34 value. The glass transition temperature (Tg) has been calculated using dynamic methods. Our values are in good agreement with those in the literat~re~3~ for similar systems. At the same time other kinetic parameters were obtained using an isothermal method and the ratio values previously calculated. This kind of epoxy/curing agent systems are mainly used in civil engineering.

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