REACTION OF GLYCIDYL ETHERS WITH ALIPHATIC-ALCOHOLS IN THE PRESENCE OF BENZYL DIMETHYLAMINE

In the reaction of phenyl glycidyl ether with aliphatic alcohols in th e presence of benzyl dimethylamine, four different oligomers are found at temperatures above 100-degrees-C. In the temperature range of 100- 180-degrees-C, the length of oligomer chains decreases with increasing temperature. In bifunctional epoxide-alcohol systems the number of br anched products increases simultaneously. These small branched oligome rs are terminated by non-reactive end groups, preventing network forma tion above 140-degrees-C. At lower temperatures (< 60-degrees-C) the p roportion of the addition mechanism exceeds 90%, alternating with a co mbined mechanism including the homopolymerization of glycidyl ether at 100-degrees-C. This mechanism yields the fastest gel times in corresp onding bifunctional epoxide-alcohol systems. Above 100-degrees-C, gel times decrease again owing to hindered crosslinking in an oligomeric s ystem with short, branched and non-reactive products.