Epoxy plus liquid crystalline epoxy coreacted networks: I. Synthesis and curing kinetics

In situ copolymerization of diglycidyl ether of 4,4'-dihydroxybiphenol (DGE -DHBP) with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol F (DGEBP-F) networks using an anh ydride curing agent has been investigated. DGEBP-F is a commercial epoxy wh ile cured DGE-DHBP shows liquid crystal transitions. Curing kinetics are de termined using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The data were fitte d using an autocatalytic curing model for both pure and mixed components. I sothermal and non-isothermal methods were compared. The glass transition (T -g) was evaluated as a function of composition using DSC. The results show that the DGE-DHBP constituent affects the curing kinetics of the epoxy resi n and that the network exhibits one T-g. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Sci ence Ltd.