MODIFICATION OF DGEBA WITH DIIMIDE-DIACIDS DERIVED FROM BICYCLO[2.2.2]OCT-7-ENE-2,3,5,6-TETRACARBOXYLIC DIANHYDRIDE AND CROSS-LINKING STUDY

Epoxy resins derived from diimide-diacids obtained from bicycle[2.2.2] oct-7-en-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic techni ques and thermal analyses. A further crosslinking using hydroxylic gro ups using dianhydride or diisocyanate as a hardener was also carried o ut. These processes led to crosslinked materials, but a DSC study does not show a straightforward relationship between the amount of hardene r used and reaction enthalpies, which suggests a complicated reaction mechanism. On the other hand, only a slight increase in T-g values was observed during the curing process. No substantial differences betwee n the thermal characteristics of linear and crosslinked polymers were observed. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.