Kinetics of epoxy cure: (1) The system bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether/m-phenylene diamine

Abstract The cure of the system bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether/ m -phenylene diamine has been monitored by several methods in the range 23–157°C. The methods give identical results and show that the same process occurs over the complete cure reaction in the temperature range studied: the kinetically indistinguishable network extension by both primary and secondary amines. The maximum extent of cure is governed by network rigidity, in not allowing reactants into proximity for reaction. The kinetics suggest the reaction itself is diffusion controlled.