Abstract
In this paper, a laboratory-made system which allows the coupling of dielectric analysis and Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) to follow the cure of polyepoxy reactive systems is presented. The dielectric measurements were obtained using an interdigitated electrode. In situ monitoring of the extent of the reaction was carried out from room temperature up to 160°C using fibre-optic FT-NIR spectroscopy. The appliance for simultaneous measurement is described and the advantages and limitations are briefly discussed. Dielectric analysis and near infrared spectroscopy are complementary since the former can detect the vitrification phenomenon and the latter can give access to the extent of the reaction. When combined, the two spectroscopies can detect indirectly, after calibration, the extent of a reaction from the electric degree of transformation and vice versa with the help of chemometrics.
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