NMR AND FTIR STUDIES ON TRANSREACTIONS AND HYDROXYL EXCHANGES OF BISPHENOL-A POLYCARBONATE WITH AN EPOXY UPON HEATING

Our previous studies have proposed occurrence of transreactions and su bsequent alcoholysis reactions upon heating between the carbonate grou p in bisphenol-A polycarbonate (PC) and the epoxide group in tetraglyc idyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) with the TGDDM monomer itself as a tertiary amine auto-catalyst. In this study, solution proton/car bon-13 n.m.r. as well as solid-state carbon-13 n.m.r. examination was performed in order to get a more detailed modelling of the chemical st ructure of transreacted tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane epo xy/bisphenol-A polycarbonate (TGDDM/PC) blends. In addition, Fourier t ransform infra-red (FTi.r.) spectroscopy was used to monitor changes o f functional groups due to heat treatment, and differential scanning c alorimetry (d.s.c.) was used to determine the T(g)s of the heated blen ds. In summary, the mechanism of reaction models in TGDDM/PC blends up on heating has been proved in greater detail. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scienc e Ltd.