Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of a novel X‐type polyester containing dicyanovinylnitroresorcinoxy groups with enhanced thermal stability of dipole alignment

A novel X‐type polyester (5) containing 4‐(2′,2′‐dicyanovinyl)‐6‐nitroresorcinoxy groups as nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores, which constitute parts of the polymer backbone, was prepared and characterized. Polyester 5 is soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and acetone. Polyester 5 shows thermal stability up to 300 °C from thermogravimetric analysis with a glass transition temperature obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of near 108 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient (d₃₃) of poled polymer films at the 1064 nm fundamental wavelength is 2.99 pm V^?1. The dipole alignment exhibits thermal stability even at 7 °C above the glass transition temperature, and no significant SHG decay is observed below 115 °C due to the partial main‐chain character of the polymer structure, which is acceptable for NLO device applications. © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of a novel polyurethane containing cyanovinylthiophene with enhanced thermal stability of dipole alignment for electro‐optic applications

Stabilization of electrically induced dipole alignment is one of the important criteria in the development of nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers for electro‐optic device applications. Polyurethanes for NLO applications have attracted attention because of their high thermal stability due to hydrogen bonding. In the work reported here, we designed and synthesized a new type of NLO polyurethane, in which the pendant NLO chromophores are part of the polymer backbone. This mid‐type NLO polymer is expected to have the merits of both main‐chain and side‐chain NLO polymers, namely stable dipole alignment and good solubility. 1‐[3,4‐Di‐(2‐hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]‐2‐(2‐thienyl)ethene was prepared and condensed with 3,3′‐dimethoxy‐4,4′‐biphenylenediisocyanate to yield a polyurethane. This polyurethane was reacted with tetracyanoethylene to give a novel Y‐type polyurethane (7) containing 1‐(3,4‐dioxyphenyl)‐2‐[5‐(1,2,2‐tricyanovinyl)‐2‐thienyl]ethenes as NLO chromophores, which constitute part of the polymer backbone. Polyurethane 7 is soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. It shows a thermal stability up to 280 °C from thermogravimetric analysis with a glass transition temperature obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of ca 162 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient (d₃₃) of a poled polymer film of he polyurethane at 1560 nm fundamental wavelength is ca 1.11 × 10^?18 C. Polymer 7 exhibits an enhanced thermal stability and no significant SHG decay is observed below 150 °C, which is acceptable for NLO device applications. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and nonlinear optical properties of novel Y‐type polyurethane containing nitrothiazolylazoresorcinoxy groups with highly enhanced thermal stability of second harmonic generation

Novel Y‐type polyurethane 4 containing 4‐(5‐nitro‐2‐thiazolylazo)resorcinoxy groups as nonlinear optical (NLO) chromophores, which are parts of the polymer main chains, was prepared and characterized. Polyurethane 4 is soluble in common organic solvents such as N,N‐dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. It shows thermal stability up to 280 °C as determined from thermogravimetric analysis with a glass transition temperature obtained from differential scanning calorimetry of about 126 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficient (d₃₃) of poled polymer film at 1064 nm fundamental wavelength is 3.78 pm V^?1. Polymer 4 exhibits thermal stability even at 4 °C higher than glass transition temperature, and no significant SHG decay is observed below 130 °C, which is acceptable for NLO device applications. © 2016 Society of Chemical Industry     

Characterization of an alkali‐treated grass fiber by thermogravimetric and X‐ray crystallographic analysis

The thermal behavior of grass fiber was characterized by means of thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry analysis. The results proved that the removal of water‐soluble matter improved the thermal behavior of grass fiber over that of unleached fiber, and this was further enhanced by an alkali treatment of the grass fiber. The isothermal weight loss of the grass‐fiber specimens was analyzed at 100, 200, and 300°C for different time periods. Accelerated aging of the grass‐fiber samples was carried out to determine the effect of aging on the tensile strength. Partially delignified grass fiber showed maximum thermal stability. X‐ray diffraction analysis was also performed to verify the composition and to correlate the change in the tensile strength due to the water leaching and alkali treatment. The processing of grass fiber with NaOH and NaClO₂ reduced the amorphous fraction in the fiber sample. This may have been a result of the loss of the amorphous noncellulosic components of the fibers and the degradation of the unordered regions of the grass fiber. However, mercerization of the grass fiber revealed an increase in the amorphous fraction after a certain time exposure, confirming the decrease in the crystallinity. The morphology of the water‐leached and alkali‐treated grass fiber was studied with scanning electron microscopy © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008     

Activation energy and curing behavior of resol‐ and novolac‐type phenolic resins by differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis

The thermal behavior, thermal degradation kinetics, and pyrolysis of resol and novolac phenolic resins with different curing conditions, as a function of the formaldehyde/phenol (F/P) molar ratio (1.3, 1.9, and 2.5 for the resol resins and 0.5, 0.7, and 0.9 for the novolac resins) were investigated. The activation energy of the thermal reaction was studied with differential scanning calorimetry at five different heating rates (2, 5, 10, 20, and 40°C/min) between 50 and 300°C. The activation energy of the thermal decomposition was investigated with thermogravimetric analysis at five different heating rates (2, 5, 10, 20, and 40°C/min) from 30 to 800°C. The low molar ratio resins exhibited a higher activation energy than the high molar ratio resins in the curing process. This meant that less heat was needed to cure the high molar ratio resins. Therefore, the higher the molar ratio was, the lower the activation energy was of the reaction. As the thermal decomposition of the resol resins proceeded, the activation energy sharply decreased at first and then remained almost constant. The activation energy of the thermal decomposition for novolac resins with F/P = 0.5 or F/P = 0.7 was almost identical in all regions, whereas that for novolac resins with F/P = 0.9 gradually decreased as the reaction proceeded. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2589–2596, 2003     

Thermal stability of modified end‐capped poly(lactic acid)

The influence of functional end groups on the thermal stability of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) in nitrogen‐ and oxygen‐enriched atmospheres has been investigated in this article using differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). Functional end groups of PLA were modified by succinic anhydride and l ‐cysteine by the addition–elimination reaction. PLA was synthesized by azeotropic condensation of l ‐lactic acid in xylene and characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance. The values of the activation energies determined by TGA in nitrogen and oxygen atmospheres revealed that the character of functional end groups has remarkable influence on the thermal stability of PLA. Moreover, DMA confirmed the strong influence of functional end groups of PLA on polymer chains motion. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 41105.     

Chitosan functionalization with a series of sulfur‐containing α‐amino acids for the development of drug‐binding abilities

Chitosan (Chi; 0.5 g) in 69.66 mM aqueous acetic acid was mixed with 312.4 mM methionine (methi) at 0.01 mL/s to disperse and cause optimum collisions for supporting condensation reactions through ? NH₂ of Chi and ? COOH groups of methi. The functionalized chitosan (f‐Chi) product with methi developed an amide bond, which was represented as methi‐functionalized chitosan [Chi–NH? C(?O)–methi]. Both the 1‐Ethyl‐3‐(3‐dimethylaminopropyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and Dean–Stark methods were followed for Chi functionalization. Sulfonation with chlorosulfonic acid in a dimethylformamide medium was conducted at 90 °C and 750 rpm with an approximately 72% yield. The Chi–NH? C(?O)–methi was characterized by ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared stretching frequencies. The onset temperature of 280 °C recorded by thermogravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry analysis, confirmed the high stability of the covalent bonds in Chi–NH? C(?O)–methi. The synthesis was repeated with other series members of sulfur (S) atoms containing α‐amino acids: homocysteine, ethionine, and propionine. The shielding of terminal ? CH₃ was enhanced on elongation of the terminal alkyl chain in the case of propionine. The peak for the ? NH₂ of Chi at a δ value of 4.73 ppm shifted to 5.36 ppm in Chi–NH? C(?O)–methi because of the involvement of ? NH₂ in ? NH? C(?O)? . Theoretically, the value of ? NH₂ of Chi was 5.11 ppm, with a difference of 0.38 ppm as compared to the experimentally determined value of 4.73 ppm. Additionally, a new peak at a δ value of 3.26 ppm also confirmed Chi functionalization. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46000.     

The effect of formaldehyde/phenol (F/P) molar ratios on function and curing kinetics of high‐solid resol phenolic resins

A series of high‐solid resol phenolic resins (HSRPRs) were synthesized with different molar ratios (1.6, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, and 2.4) of formaldehyde to phenol using calcium oxide and sodium hydroxide as catalyst. The effects of F/P molar ratios on physical properties, free formaldehyde and phenol, activity, structure, and thermally resistant properties of HSRPRs were fully investigated by chemical assays, liquid and solid ¹³C‐NMR, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The curing kinetics of different F/P molar ratios were explored with differential scanning calorimeter at four different heating rates (5, 10, 15, 20°C/min) from 35 to 200°C. Overall, HSRPRs with F/P = 2.0 had excellent comprehensive properties. The study was significant in solving the wastewater problem during the process of industry‐scale preparation of HSRPRs. We believed that the experimental findings would provide a new avenue for further study and application of HSRPRs. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013     

Synthesis and performance of phenolic polybutadiene‐bound stabilizers

An antioxidant derivative, 6‐sulfanylhexyl 3‐(3,5‐di‐tert‐butyl‐4‐hydroxyphenyl)propanoate, was synthesized and examined. With a radical initiator, the addition of this compound to pending vinyls of OH‐telechelic, low molecular weight liquid polybutadiene (LBH) was performed to various degrees of conversion to form polymeric antioxidants (PAOs) in which the phenolic moiety was separated from the main chain by a spacer [? CH₂CH₂? S? (CH₂)₆? O? CO? ]. Pure, unstabilized LBH was mixed in several ratios with PAOs, Irganox 1520, and Irganox 1076, and the oxidation stabilities of these mixtures, determined by thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, were compared. Probably because of their good compatibility with LBH, PAOs exhibited equal or better effectiveness than commercial antioxidants of the Irganox type. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 87: 885–889, 2003     

Improvements in the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of phase‐change microcapsules with oxygen‐plasma‐modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes

The thermal properties and mechanical properties are the key factors of phase‐change microcapsules (microPCMs) in energy‐storage applications. In this study, microPCMs based on an n‐octadecane (C18) core and a melamine–urea–formaldehyde (MUF) shell supplemented with O₂‐plasma‐modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were synthesized through in situ polymerization. Meanwhile, two different addition methods, the addition of modified CNTs into the emulsion system or into the polymer system, were compared and examined. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed that the microPCMs were spherical and had a broadened size distribution. Fourier transform infrared testing demonstrated that the modified CNTs did not affect C18 coated by MUF resin. The results indicate that the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the microPCMs were remarkably improved by the addition of a moderate amount of modified CNTs, but the heat enthalpy and encapsulated efficiency decreased slightly. Moreover, the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of microPCMs modified with CNTs directly added to the polymer system were superior to those with CNTs added to emulsion system. In particular, when 0.2 g of modified CNTs were added to the polymer system, the thermal conductivity of the microPCMs was improved by 225%, and the breakage rates of the microPCMs at 4000 rpm for 5, 10, and 20 min decreased by 74, 72, and 60%, respectively, compared with that of the microPCMs without modified CNTs. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2017 , 134, 45269.     

Free‐radical copolymerization of [(4‐isopropyl phenyl) oxycarbonyl] methyl methacrylate with acrylonitrile and methyl methacrylate

The present investigation has been achieved in accordance with the Diels–Alder reaction (1,4 cycloaddition) to produce a new halogenated bicyclic adduct. ortho‐Bromoallylbenzoate is a new dienophile that was prepared in a pure form, and its structure was confirmed. The Diels–Alder syntheses of hexachlorocyclopentadiene and the new dienophile were studied to determine the optimum condensation reaction conditions under a temperature range of 90–160°C, reaction times of 1–8 h, and molar diene/dienophile ratios from 1:1 to 5:1 as a consequence. The optimum conditions reached were a temperature of 140°C, an initial diene/dienophile molar ratio of 3:1, and a duration time of 6 h. The maximum stoichometric yield under these optimum conditions (82.5%) was obtained. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 2331–2338, 2003     

Thermal analysis of high‐density polyethylene and low‐density polyethylene with enhanced biodegradability

The thermal properties of high‐density polyethylene (HDPE) and low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) filled with different biodegradable additives (Mater‐Bi AF05H, Cornplast, and Bioefect 72000) were investigated with thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The DSC traces of the additives indicated that they did not undergo any significant phase change or transition in the temperature region typically encountered by a commercial composting system. The TGA results showed that the presence of the additive led to a thermally less stable matrix and higher residue percentages. The products obtained during the thermodegradation of these degradable polyolefins were similar to those from pure polyethylenes. The LDPE blends were thermally less stable than the HDPE blends. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 86: 764–772, 2002     

Nonionic water‐soluble polymer: Preparation,characterization, and application of poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) as a polychelatogen

The free‐radical copolymerization of water‐soluble poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) was carried out with a feed monomer ratio of 75:25 mol %, and the total monomer concentration was 2.67M. The synthesis of the copolymer was carried out in dioxane at 70°C with benzoyl peroxide as the initiator. The copolymer composition was obtained with elemental analysis and ¹H‐NMR spectroscopy. The water‐soluble polymer was characterized with elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared, ¹H‐ and ¹³C‐NMR spectroscopy, and thermal analysis. Additionally, viscosimetric measurements of the copolymer were performed. The thermal behavior of the copolymer and its complexes were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry techniques under a nitrogen atmosphere. The copolymer showed high thermal stability and a glass transition in the DSC curves. The separation of various metal ions by the water‐soluble poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) reagent in the aqueous phase with liquid‐phase polymer‐based retention was investigated. The method was based on the retention of inorganic ions by this polymer in a membrane filtration cell and subsequent separation of low‐molar‐mass species from the polymer/metal‐ion complex formed. Poly(1‐vinyl‐2‐pyrrolidone‐co‐hydroxyethylmethacrylate) could bind metal ions such as Cr(III), Co(II), Zn(II), Ni(II), Cu(II), Cd(II), and Fe(III) in aqueous solutions at pHs 3, 5, and 7. The retention percentage for all the metal ions in the polymer was increased at pH 7, at which the maximum retention capacity could be observed. The interaction of inorganic ions with the hydrophilic polymer was determined as a function of the pH and filtration factor. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 100: 178–185, 2006     

Preparation and performance analysis of barium titanate incorporated in corn starch‐based polymer electrolytes for electric double layer capacitor application

Polymer electrolyte membranes composing of corn starch as host polymer, lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) as salt, and barium titanate (BaTiO₃) as composite filler are prepared using solution casting technique. Ionic conductivity is enhanced on addition of BaTiO₃ by reducing the crystallinity and increasing the amorphous phase content of the polymer electrolyte. The highest ionic conductivity of 1.28 × 10^?2 S cm^?1 is obtained for 10 wt % BaTiO₃ filler in corn starch‐LiClO₄ polymer electrolytes at 75°C. Glass transition temperature (T_g) of polymer electrolytes decreases as the amount of BaTiO₃ filler is increased, as observed in differential scanning calorimetry analysis. Scanning electron microscopy and thermogravimetric analysis are employed to characterize surface morphological and thermal properties of BaTiO₃‐based composite polymer electrolytes. The electrochemical properties of the electric double‐layer capacitor fabricating using the highest ionic conductivity polymer electrolytes is investigated using cyclic voltammetry and charge‐discharge analysis. The discharge capacitance obtained is 16.22 F g^?1. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016 , 133, 43275.     

Thermal and nondestructive analysis of high density polyethylene filled with milled salago fiber

Fillers are utilized for different purposes. In plastic industry, fillers are mainly used to extend the bulk of the compound; however, they can also improve physical properties, materials processing, and reduce cycle time of plastics. In this article, high-density polyethylene was filled with untreated and 5% alkaline-treated salago fiber, and thereafter the thermal and nondestructive properties of the composites were investigated. It was found that the chemical treatment of fiber increased the thermal stability and the mean coefficient value of linear thermal expansion of the treated composites as compared to the untreated ones. Moreover, the increase of fiber content in composites increased the crystallinity level while decreased the thermal capacity and melting temperature of the composites. The zinc, calcium, and phosphorus contents were found to be within the industry-acceptable range for elemental contents in polyolefins. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136, 47873.     

Thermal behavior of vinyl ester resin matrix composites reinforced with alkali‐treated jute fibers

The thermal behavior of vinyl ester resin matrix composites reinforced with jute fibers treated for 2, 4, 6, and 8 h with 5% NaOH was studied with Thermo‐gravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry. The moisture desorption peak shifted to a higher temperature, from 37 to 58.3°C, for all the treated‐fiber composites because of improved wetting of the fibers by the resin and stronger bonding at the interface. The degradation temperature of the vinyl ester resin in the composites was lowered to 410.3°C from that of the neat resin, 418.8°C. The X‐ray diffraction studies showed increased crystallinity of the treated fibers, which affected the enthalpy of the α‐cellulose and hemicellulose degradation. The hemicellulose degradation temperature remained the same (299.7°C) in all the treated‐fiber composites, but the enthalpy associated with the hemicellulose degradation showed an increasing trend in the treated composites with a small increase in the weight loss. This could be attributed to the increased hydrogen bonding between the more accessible ? OH groups of the hemicellulose in the noncrystalline region of the jute fiber and the resin. The degradation temperature of α‐cellulose was lowered from 364.2 to 356.8°C in the treated composites. The enthalpy of α‐cellulose degradation showed a decreasing trend with a lowering of the weight loss. The crystalline regions of the fiber, consisting of closely packed α‐cellulose chains, were bonded with the resin mainly on the surface through hydrogen bonds and became more resistant to thermal degradation; this reduced the weight loss. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 94: 123–129, 2004     

Morphological evolution of polytetrafluoroethylene in extreme temperature conditions for aerospace applications

The organic electrical insulator polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is used in aerospace industry under extreme conditions of temperature and electric field. The melting temperature of PTFE is about 327°C and nowadays operating temperature of this kind of insulators can reach about 300°C and up to 350°C for new generations of machines. All thermal, electrical and mechanical operating stresses, especially high temperature and voltage can be factors of ageing acceleration and/or degradation of the insulators that could cause premature failures. Our present work is focused on the organic insulator behavior at high temperature in order to understand the mechanisms of thermal ageing and degradation. The change of morphology of PTFE during the thermal ageing has been studied. Thin films in PTFE were aged by accelerated method under oxidizing environment (air) and severe thermal constraints between 340 and 450°C. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014 , 131, 39841.     

Preparation and electro‐optic properties of novel Y‐type polyimides with highly enhanced thermal stability of second harmonic generation

BACKGROUND: In the development of nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers for electro‐optic device applications, stabilization of electrically induced dipole alignment is one of the important criteria. Polyimides for NLO applications have attracted attention because of their high T_g values and high thermal stability. In this work we designed and synthesized a new type of NLO polyimide, in which the pendant NLO chromophores are parts of the polymer backbone. These mid‐type NLO polymers are expected to have the merits of both main‐chain and side‐chain NLO polymers: stabilization of dipole alignment and good solubility. RESULTS: 3,4‐Bis‐(3,4‐dicarboxyphenylcarboxyethoxy)‐4′‐nitrostilbene dianhydride was prepared and reacted with the corresponding aromatic diamine to yield unprecedented Y‐type polyimides containing 3,4‐dioxynitrostilbenyl groups as NLO chromophores, which constituted parts of the polymer backbones. The resulting polyimides are soluble in polar solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethylsulfoxide. These polymers showed a thermal stability up to 320 °C in thermogravimetric thermograms with T_g values obtained from differential scanning calorimetry thermograms in the range 143–164 °C. The second harmonic generation (SHG) coefficients (d₃₃) of poled polymer films at the 1064 nm^?1 fundamental wavelength were around 9.45 × 10^?18 C. CONCLUSION: The dipole alignment exhibited exceptionally high thermal stability even at 30 °C higher than T_g. There was no SHG decay below 180–190 °C because of the partial main‐chain character of the polymer structure, which is acceptable for NLO device applications. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry     

Improved mechanical and antibacterial properties of thermoplastic polyurethanes by efficient double functionalization of silver nanoparticles

When making nanocomposites, there is a big challenge to obtain both functional and mechanical enhancement. In this study, a new in situ polymerization methodology for the incorporation of surface modified silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) in a thermoplastic polyurethane matrix was developed. AgNPs with contents ranging from 0 to 1.5 wt % were used. A double functionalization of the nanoparticles with oleic acid was performed, which lead to a reaction of carboxylic acid groups in the nanoparticle's surface with isocyanate groups of the 4,4′‐methylene diphenyl diisocyanate monomer as corroborated from the Raman results. The successful incorporation of the nanoparticles was verified with EDS, TGA, and Raman measurements. Thermal properties of nanocomposites were investigated by DSC. AgNPs made positive impact in two ways: first, increased more than twice the elastic modulus, as studied via nanoindentation measurements and second, based on the inhibition zone method, great bactericidal effectiveness for nanocomposites containing 1.5 wt % AgNPs was observed for Escherichia coli. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018 , 135, 46180.     

Preparation of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole derivatives as latent curing agents and their application in curing epoxy resin

Three kinds of 2‐ethyl‐4‐methylimidazole (EMI) derivatives (N‐acetyl EMI, N‐benzoyl EMI, and N‐benzenesulfonyl EMI) were synthesized through the reaction of EMI with acetyl chloride, benzoyl chloride, and benzenesulfonyl chloride, respectively. And the structure was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) spectra. Furthermore, the synthesized EMI derivatives were applied in diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A epoxy resin (DGEBA) as latent curing agent. Differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) was used to analyze the curing behavior of DGEBA/EMI derivative systems, indicating DGEBA could be efficiently cured by the EMI derivatives at 110～160°C, and the corresponding curing activation energy ranged from 71 to 86 kJ/mol. Viscosity data proves that the storage life of DGEBA with N‐acetyl EMI (NAEMI), N‐benzoyl EMI (NBEMI), and N‐benzenesulfonyl EMI (NBSEMI) at room temperature was 38 d, 50 d, and 80 d, and that at 10°C was 90 d, 115 d, and 170 d, respectively. Besides, thermogravimetry (TG), izod impact strength (IIS), and tensile shear strength (TSS) were tested to characterize the thermal stability and mechanical properties of DGEBA cured by EMI derivatives. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2015 , 132, 42563.