Preparation and reactivity studies of maleimidophenyl glycidylether with amines

The hybrid thermosetting maleimido epoxy compound 4-(N-maleimidophenyl) glycidylether (N-MPGE) was prepared by reacting N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (HPM) with epichlorohydrin by using benzyltrimethylammonium chloride as a catalyst. The resulting compound possessed both the oxirane ring and maleimide group. The curing reaction of N-MPGE with amines as curing agents such as tetraethylenepentamine (TEPA), bishexamethylenetriamine (BHMT), 2-methyl pentamethylenediamine (2-MPMDA) and 2,2,4-trimethy diamines (2,2,4-TMDA) was studied. The cured samples exhibited good thermal stability and excellent chemical (acid/alkali/solvent) and water absorption resistance. Morphological studies by the SEM technique further confirmed the phase homogeneity network of the cured systems. KEY WORDS : Amine, Epoxy resin, Maleimide, Curing, Epichlorohydrin Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2011 , 25(1), 73-82.