| Abstract: | The relative reactivity of the functional groups present in aromatic amine and diepoxide monomers has been investigated by gel permeation chromatography. The ratio of rate constants for the consumption of the secondary and primary amine hydrogens involved in the reaction between aniline and phenyl glycidyl ether has been calculated to equal approximately 0.5. In the case of the reaction between N-methy aniline and diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) the rate constant ratio for the consumption of the first and second epoxide groups in the DGEBA molecule is also approximately 0.5. In contradiction to previously published data these results suggest that substitution effects are unimportant for aromatic amines as well as DGEBA. Furthermore, etherification side reactions, consuming epoxide groups at the expense of the amine–epoxide reaction, also appear to be insignificant. |
