Abstract
Novel polyamides (PAs) were synthesized by the reaction of bisester derivatives of an epoxy resin with various diamines. A bisester was synthesized by the reaction of epoxy resin (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) with 3- amino ethyl benzoate. All the resulting resins were characterized by elemental analysis, infrared spectrometry and thermogravimetry. The number average molecular weight of all samples was estimated by Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC). Using differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), the kinetics of the curing reactions of PA-epoxy resin systems were established by evaluating the usual kinetic parameters. The thermal behaviour of PA-epoxy cured products was also studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The ‘in situ’ glass reinforced laminates of PA- epoxy resin were prepared and characterized by chemical resistance and mechanical property measurements.