Dielectric study of the curing process in crosslinked polymers

During the final stage of the crosslinking process for polymers such as with epoxy systems, the polymer becomes apparently glassy, and the reaction is markedly slowed as compared to the early stage, but continues in the manner consistent with the familiar enthalpic relaxation process during physical aging of polymeric glasses. Dielectric measurements are made on the epoxy system during this “relaxation time-controlled” crosslinking process, in order to monitor the extent of reaction and to predict the physical properties of the resulting polymeric glass.