EPOXY-AROMATIC DIAMINE KINETICS .2. INFLUENCE ON EPOXY-AMINE NETWORK FORMATION

From the complete description of neat systems and the determination of phase diagrams, the influence of a nonfunctionalized initially solubl e thermoplastic on epoxy-amine kinetics was discussed, considering the dilution effect induced by the additive. The initially soluble thermo plastic, a poly(ether imide), PEI, can act as a catalyst when the init ial reactivity of the epoxy-amine system is very low. The conversion, x(cp), at which phase separation occurs depends on the initial miscibi lity of PEI in the mixture of monomers. Both structural transformation s, gelation and vitrification, were found to be affected by the phase separation process because of the induced fractionation phenomena. The evolution of phase diagrams which cure was also considered and temper ature-conversion-transformation (TxT) diagrams were presented.