A kinetic model for curing reactions of epoxides with amines

Abstract

Abstract Curing reactions of epoxy resins are accelerated by added hydrogen‐bond donor solvent and hydroxyl groups produced during the course of polymerization. A kinetic model comprising several different polycondensation and polyaddition reactions that occur simultaneously is developed. The concept of diffusion controlled reactions is employed to describe the change of reaction rate constants with conversion after the formation of an infinite crosslinking network. Good agreement is obtained between the model predictions and experimental data available in the literature.