The curing reaction of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) and diethylentriamine (DETA) system was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Different kinetics expressions were found by isothermal and dynamic experiments that they justify mechanism changes with the temperature. The reaction follows a second order kinetics and has activation energy of 90 kJ mol-1 at high temperatures (non-catalytic mechanism). The kinetics of the reactions at low temperatures manifested the existence of two competitive mechanisms, the constants rate were determined at 60 and 70°C and has activation energy in the range of 56.9 to 63.0 kJ mol-1 that is in perfect agreement with the reported to low temperatures (autocatalytic mechanism ).
Diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A; diethylentriamine; curing reaction; differencial scanning calorimetry
