Kinetics of the thiokol-epoxy cure process as studied by the e.s.r. spin probe method

Abstract The dependence of the kinetics of the thiokol-epoxy cure process with dimethylaminomethylphenol on the formation of components was studied by the e.s.r. spin probe method. It was found that the copolymerization reaction is characterized by the following stages: the initiation of the epoxy molecules; the appearance of regions of structurized polymer; the activation of polysulphide molecules and the formation of linear polymer chains. No stage division is found when a modifying agent (quinone imide or benzoquinone) is used. The data obtained correspond well to the recently proposed concept of radical copolymerization of thiokol-epoxy compositions.