Kinetic analysis of relaxation process for the epoxy network diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/m‐xylylenediamine

The relaxation kinetic of the epoxy network diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (BADGE n = 0) and m‐xylylenediamine (m‐XDA) was analyzed from DSC experimental data, using different theoretical models. Based on a Petrie model, which involved separate contributions of temperature and structure, three characteristic parameters were calculated: a preexponential factor A, an apparent activation energy E_H, and a parameter C, which indicate the dependency of relaxation time on structure. This model allowed us to calculate the relaxation function at different ageing temperatures. Another method used to study a relaxation kinetic was the Kovacs–Hutchinson model, which takes into account the dependency of the relaxation time on temperature and structure. The last model used was a two‐parameter equation from Williams–Watts, where the relaxation time is independent of temperature. Using data of characteristic times a master curve for the relaxation function was obtained. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 1591–1595, 2005