Structural-kinetic effect of small additions of plasticizer in curing of epoxy oligomers with aromatic amines

An abnormal effect of small additions of ester plasticizers on the structur e and properties of epoxy-amine network polymers was revealed and analyzed. The resulting increase in the excess free volume, internal stresses, glass transition point, and extent of structural heterogeneity of the polymers i s explained by the structural-kinetic effect of the plasticizers on the che mical cross-linking in the course of synthesis.