Mechanism of the curing reaction of model epoxy compounds with monuron

The ability of monuron (p-chlorophenyl-N,N-dimethylurea) to cure epoxy resi ns was investigated by means of hardening the mono functional model compoun d p-tolylglycidyl ether, The reaction products were isolated and the possib le intermediates were synthesised independently for comparison. Their react ivity was tested. As analytical methods, thermo-FT-IR spectroscopy, DSC and liquid-solid chromatography were applied. The results indicate that during curing monuron reacts without decomposing into free isocyanate and dimethy lamine and that the polymer-forming reaction is not terminated by the well- known formation of 2-oxazolidones. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right s reserved.