Epoxy thermosetting systems based on cycloaliphatic diamines

Abstract

Abstract We have investigated the reaction kinetics of a liquid prepolymer DGEBA with isophorone diamine (IPD) and menthane diamine (MNDA). IPD is 10 times more reactive than MNDA. With mixtures of these two hardeners we have the possibility to control the reactivity of the curing agent and the pot life of the system. The kinetic results can be described with a single conversion temperature‐phase diagram and interpreted with the classical autocatalytic epoxyprimary and secondary amine hydrogens addition. The differences between IPD and MNDA can be explained by the steric hindrance around the amine group of MNDA and also by the difficulty to obtain pure MNDA without oxidation.