A photoelastic method was used to investigate the residual stresses in ther
moset matrices during curing and cooling generated around spherical and hig
h shape ratio fillers modelled by glass beads and glass or carbon fibers,re
spectively. Two types of reactive systems were selected: i/based on a stoic
hiometric mixture of epoxy prepolymer and diamine comonomers -polycondensat
ion-; ii! based on a mixture of epoxy prepolymer and an anhydride -chain po
lymerization-, A mapping of the residual stresses was obtained after curing
process and after hydrothermal aging. From such a method, the location of
the maximal stresses and the extend of residual stresses field can be discu
ssed as a function of the geometry of the inclusions, the nature of the mat
rix, and the aging. The photoelastic method can be effective for various ty
pes of fillers and polymer matrices in order to select the proper associati
ons of components for composite materials.