Monitoring of Curing Process and Shelf Life of the Epoxy−Anhydride System with TICT Compounds by the Fluorescence Technique

Abstract

In this study the curing degree and the shelf life of an epoxy resin were monitored by a fluorescence method. Four extrinsic fluorescence probes, so-called TICT compounds, were used. An intensity ratio method was applied, in which ratios of the lowest and highest intensity changes in the emission bands are used to determine the degree of the isothermal curing. A smooth and in some cases a linear correlation was found between the fluorescence intensity ratio and the degree of the cure. The fluorescence technique and the ratio method enable the monitoring of the precuring and shelf life of the studied epoxy polymer.