Curing of an epoxy resin modified with poly(methylmethacrylate) monitored by simultaneous dielectric/near infrared spectroscopies

Simultaneous dielectric and near infrared measurements have been performed in “real-time” to follow polymerisation reactions on blends of a diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A epoxy resin with 4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane hardener and different amounts of poly(methylmethacrylate) as modifier. The effect of the modifier amount on the polymerisation reactions has been studied, as well as that of the curing temperature. Epoxy and amine conversions have been followed by near infrared spectroscopy (NIR), while changes in molecular mobility in the reaction mixture have been analysed by dielectric relaxation spectroscopy (DRS). Evolutions of ionic conductivity and α-relaxation have been analysed and vitrification times have been obtained. The relaxational behaviour has been analysed through curing in the frequency domain, being the change of the main relaxation indicative of the cure reaction advancement. DRS data are also presented as complex impedance Z(ω). Vitrification times, obtained by dielectrometry have been compared with those obtained by rheological measurements and gelation times obtained by NIR have been compared with those obtained by solvent extraction.