Decomposition behavior of epoxy-resin systems cured by diamines

The kinetic of decomposition of two epoxy-resin systems cured by diamines h as been investigated through thermogravimetric analysis measurements. The a ctivation energies, E, of the decomposition of both systems were evaluated by an isothermal method and five dynamic methods reported in the literature . A single method to determine the type of mechanisms of decomposition was applied. The values of the activation energies obtained by these six method s for each studied system agree well when the degradation behavior of the s ystem based in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A was assumed to be of sigmoid al rate type and for the system based in tetraglycidyl-4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane was assumed a deceleratory rate type. The information about the kin etic parameters based only on thermal degradation data has been used for a quick estimation of half-life time and lifetime of these systems at differe nt temperatures. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.