Kinetic and Computer Modelling of Epoxy Resin Cure

Abstract The use of a combination of computer modelling and tritium radiolabelling is described as a technique for the investigation of the kinetics and mechanism of the autocatalytic reactions occurring in epoxy resin cure. Rate constants for substituted anilines reacting with phenylglycidylether have been derived and the effect of steric hindrance investigated. The program is described and its use in the explanation and understanding of the experimental data is illustrated.