Pulsed NMR study of molecular motion in the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A cured with 4,4′-methylenedianiline

The monomeric diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A cured with methylenedianiline has been studied by pulsed NMR. Values of the proton relaxation times T₁, T_1p, and T₂ have been measured over the temperature range ?160 to 200°C. The system was studied after being fully postcured at 180°C and after being cured at 100°C and at 54°C. The relaxation times are interpreted in terms of molecular motion in the cured resins, i.e., methyl group reorientation, segmental motions, and general molecular motion. The results are compared with those obtained previously by us for the uncured resin. Correlation frequencies for the segmental motions are compared with those obtained from dielectric relaxation and mechanical loss studies. There are at least two principal segmental motions present in the cured system, and the nature of these motions is found to depend on the cure temperature. These effects are discussed in terms of crosslinking and annealing of the system.