KINETICS OF CURING REACTION OF A DIGLYCIDYL ETHER OF BISPHENOL-A 1,3-BISAMINOMETHYL-CYCLOHEXANE (DGEBA 1,3-BAC) EPOXY-RESIN SYSTEM/

By employing differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) we have studied t he kinetic of the cure reaction for a system containing a diglycidyl e ther of bisphenol A (DGEBA) and 1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane (1,3-BAC ) as a curing agent, using an isothermal approach over the temperature range of 60-110 degrees C. We have determined the reached conversions at several cure temperatures and the reaction rates. The results show ed that this cure reaction is autocatalytic. The experimental data wer e compared with the autocatalytic model proposed by Kamal, which inclu des two rate constants and two reaction orders. This model gives a goo d description of cure kinetics up to vitrification point. The activati on Energies for these rate constants were 44-57 kJ mol(-1). From the g el time measurements the value obtained for the overall activation ene rgy was 49.5 kJ mol(-1).