Synthesis and Reactivity Studies of Malclmidc-epoxy Resins with Aliphatic Amines.

Maleimide modified epoxy compounds were prepared by reacting N-(4-hydroxyphenyl) maleimide (HPM) with diglycidylether of bisphenol-A. Triphenylphosphine was used as a catalyst and methylethylketone as a solvent. The resulting compound possessed both the oxirane ring and maleimide group. The curing reaction of the maleimide-epoxy compound with amine curing agents such as ethylenediamine (EDA), diethylenetriamine (DETA) and triethylenetetramine (TETA) were studied. Incorporation of maleimide groups in the epoxy resin provides cyclic imide structure and high cross-linking density to the cured resins. The cured samples were found to have good thermal stability, chemical (acid/alkali/solvent) and water absorption resistance. The morphology of cured epoxy systems were also studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).