Polymers based on N,N ‐diglycidylaniline. I. Investigations of the curing kinetics by dynamic differential scanning calorimetry measurements

N,N ‐Diglycidylaniline was reacted with aniline (yielding polymer EP‐1) and the newly synthesized chromophore 4‐(phenylazo)aniline (yielding polymer EP‐2). The curing kinetics of these two epoxy resin systems was studied in dynamic experiments by means of differential scanning calorimetry. Kinetic parameters such as the activation energy and frequency factor were estimated with the Ozawa method [ E ( O ) and A ( O ), respectively], the Kissinger method [ E ( K ) and A ( K ), respectively], and the modified Avrami method [ E ( A ) and A ( A ), respectively]. The activation energy and frequency factor of EP‐1 were much lower than those of EP‐2 estimated with the Ozawa, Kissinger, and Avrami methods. The activation energy and frequency factor for EP‐1 determined with the Ozawa method [ E ( O ) = 55.8 kJ/mol, A ( O ) = 10 × 10 3 1/s] and the Avrami method [ E ( A ) = 56.4 kJ/mol, A ( A ) = 9.2 × 10 3 1/s] were higher than those determined with the Kissinger method [ E ( K ) = 51.0 kJ/mol, A ( K ) = 2 × 10 3 1/s]. In the case of EP‐2, the kinetic parameters calculated with the Ozawa model [ E ( O ) = 140.4 kJ/mol, A ( O ) = 12.3 × 10 13 1/s] and the Kissinger model [ E ( K ) = 139.9 kJ/mol, A ( K ) = 10.9 × 10 13 1/s] were higher than those calculated with the Avrami model [ E ( A ) = 130.4 kJ/mol, A ( A ) = 7.9 × 10 12 1/s]. The obtained polymers were characterized with Fourier transform infrared, 1 H‐NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The polymers exhibited low glass‐transition temperatures in the range of 57–79°C and good solubility in common organic solvents. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009