Study of the physical aging of an epoxy/cycloaliphatic amine resin modified with ABS

Using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) we have studied the physical aging of an epoxy resin based on the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) modified by two different contents of an acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) and cured with 1,3-bisaminomethylcyclohexane (1,3-BAC). Samples fully cured were annealed at temperature of 125degreesC for periods of time of 72 and 120 h, to determine the process of physical aging. The apparent activation energy for the enthalpy relaxation, Deltah*, is determined as the sample is heated at 10degreesC min(-1) following cooling at various rates through the glass transition region. DSC studies suggested that the presence of thermoplastic inhibits the process of relaxation.