Curing of epoxide resins: Model reactions of curing with amines

The reaction of tetrafunctional diamines and bifunctional amines with monoepoxy compounds was investigated by gel-permeation chromatography. At a stoichiometrically equivalent ratio of the functional groups or excess of amine, the consecutive reaction of the epoxide groups with the hydrogen atoms of the amino groups is the only reaction that is taking place; if epoxide is present in excess, the OH groups formed in the reaction are gradually added to the epoxide groups. The ratio of the rate constants of the reaction of the epoxy group with the hydrogen atoms of the primary and secondary amino group was calculated from the concentrations of the reaction products at various excess amounts of amines. The ratio is in good accord with the value calculated from the gel points and limiting stoichiometric ratios in the curing of diepoxides with diamines.