AN INTERPENETRATED SYSTEM BASED ON A TETRAFUNCTIONAL EPOXY-RESIN AND A THERMOSETTING BISMALEIMIDE - STRUCTURE - PROPERTIES CORRELATION

The kinetics and mechanism of the curing process of a thermosetting bl end formed by tetraglycidyl-4-4'-diaminodiphenyl methane and N,N'-bism aleimido-4-4'diphenyl methane (BMI) cured in the presence of 4,4'-diam inodiphenyl sulfone, was investigated in detail by Fourier transform i nfrared spectroscopy. Information on the molecular structure of the ne twork formed upon curing was derived. Dynamic-mechanical measurements on dry samples indicated an interpenetrated polymer network-like struc ture. Sorption measurements at 70 degrees C showed a reduction of the water uptake at equilibrium in the presence of substantial amounts of BMI in the system (43.5% body weight). Finally, the dynamic-mechanical analysis of wet samples demonstrated a reduction of the plasticizing efficiency of the absorbed water in the presence of BMI. (C) 1998 John Wiley & Sons Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 69: 1029-1042, 1998.