SYNTHESIS AND CROSS-LINKING OF NEW BIS(4,5-EPOXYTETRAHYDROPHTHALIMIDES)

Preparation and characterization of novel cycloaliphatic epoxy resins derived from tetrahydrophthalimide compounds were studied. Crosslinkin g studies on these resins were carried out using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermal gravimetry analysis (TGA). Thermal cros slinking overlaps with degradation and, therefore, hardeners or cataly sts were used in order to decrease the crosslinking temperature. Prima ry or tertiary amines did not give curing reaction but the latter affo rded isomerization to produce phthalimides when the amine was used in a great proportion. On the other hand, the use of an anhydride (cis-1, 2-cyclohexanedicarboxylic anhydride) as hardener and a tertiary amine (4-dimethylaminopyridine) as accelerator led to crosslinked materials. DSC was used to follow the reaction and a dynamic method was applied to obtain kinetic parameters. Thermal stability was evaluated by TGA.