Reorientational Dynamics and Intermolecular Cooperativity in Reactive Polymers. 2. Multifunctional Epoxy−Amine Systems

An examination was carried out of the reorientational dynamics of dipoles during the network formation in multifunctional epoxy−amine systems. Experimental results were generated by simultaneous dielectric and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements. The observed changes in reorientational dynamics during the advancement of reactions were utilized to (1) describe the origin of the α relaxation during the network formation, (2) propose a methodology for the evaluation of the kinetics of network formation, and (3) advance an interpretation of network dynamics in terms of intermolecular cooperativity based on the interplay between molecular and dielectric architecture. Fragility or cooperativity plots proved most informative in relating intermolecular cooperativity to the molecular characteristics of the growing network.