Using diethylphosphites as thermally latent curing agents for epoxy compounds

Diethylphosphite (DEP) and its derivative exhibited thermally latent properties for epoxy curing reactions through the formation of phosphonic acid as an active species from a reaction of ethanol elimination, which was observed with H-1 NMR and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry measurements. The thermally latent properties and curing reaction kinetics of the curing reaction of DEPs with diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A were studied with differential scanning calorimetry. The cured epoxy resins possessed a phosphorous element coming from the DEP derivatives, exhibiting improved flame retardancy. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.