Spectroscopic, Mechanical and Dynamic-Mechanical Studies on the Photo-Aging of a Tetrafunctional Epoxy Resin

Abstract The photo‐oxidative degradation of a densely cross‐linked epoxide/diamine network based on tetraglycidyl‐4,4′ diaminodiphenylmethane (TGDDM) and 4,4′ diaminodiphenyl sulphone (DDS) has been investigated by FTIR spectroscopy, dynamic‐mechanical analysis (DMA) and compressive mechanical tests. The FTIR measurements allowed us to monitor the degradation process of the different groups present in the TGDDM/DDS network and to obtain reliable kinetic data. On this basis the most likely photo‐degradation mechanisms were proposed. Dynamic‐mechanical measurements and mechanical compressive tests were used to gain an insight in the effect of the photo‐oxidative degradation on the relaxation processes of the epoxy network and on the mechanical performances.