Structure of diepoxide–diamine network polymers. II. Soluble chemical species

Gel permeation chromatography has been used to separate diepoxide–diamine oligomers, produced at a variety of stoichiometric ratios, into individual chemical species. Probability theory has been applied to calculate expressions for the amounts of each of these compounds and close agreement has been found with the experimental results. In conjunction with previous conclusions, this provides compelling evidence in favor of a purely random reaction mechanism, contrary to the inhomogeneous network-forming mechanism suggested by other workers. The effect of adding an inert diluent prior to reaction has been investigated and it is evident that the fraction of intramolecularly formed bonds increases as the concentration of polymer decreases.