Network formation studied by temperature scanning Brillouin scattering anddifferential scanning calorimetry techniques. II.

The reaction of 1,4-butanediol diglycidyl ether (EP) with cis-1,2-cyclohexa nedicarboxylic anhydride (CH) and triethylamine (TEA) as an initiator was s tudied with temperature scanning Brillouin spectroscopy (TSBS) and differen tial scanning calorimetry (DSC). The evolution of the reaction process (liq uid-gel-solid) was investigated as a function of the epoxy molar fraction ( x(EP),), for sample compositions varying from an epoxy excess to an anhydri de excess. The dependence of the final conversion factors alphar(DSC) and a lphar(TSBS) and the kinetic parameters E-DSC and E-TSBS on x(E1), is presen ted. A comparison of the experimental gelation point (Pgel) behavior and th e expected theoretical one, described by the Flory theory, is also reported . (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.