Structure-property relationships in epoxy-amine networks of well-controlled architecture

Series of epoxy-amine networks of well-controlled architecture were prepare d by varying (a) the chemical nature of both diepoxide and primary diamine, (b) the nature and relative amount of the difunctional amine co-hardener a nd (c) the stoichiometric ratio. The 22 systems under study here proved to be very suitable for establishing connections between network structure and various physical and mechanical properties including glass transition, pri mary and secondary mechanical relaxations, modulus in the glassy state, pla sticization and antiplasticization effects, water uptake and development of residual stresses. Most of these relationships were based on the considera tion of the cross-link density, which affects the properties to a larger ex tent than the chain flexibility.