The Role of Physical Network in the Formation
of Polymer Network Systems¹

E. A. Dzhavadyan, V. I. Irzhak, and B. A. Rozenberg

Institute for Chemical Physics Research, Russian Academy of Sciences,
p/o Chernogolovka, Moscow Oblast, 142432 Russia

Received March 25, 1998;
Revised Manuscript Received July 7, 1998

Abstract—The rheokinetics of formation of the epoxy–amine network during the cure of bisphenol A digly-
cidyl ether with a mixture of primary di- and monoamine in a broad temperature range was studied by the meth-
ods of viscometry and torsional pendulum. It was found that the critical conversions depend on the curing tem-
perature (T_cure). For T_cure < T_g,gel, the critical conversion falls markedly below that at the gelation point because
the network formation in this temperature region involves both chemical and physical contacts. The formation
of a labile physical network leads to an unusual diagram of relaxation states featuring a previously unreported
region of quasirubberlike state. The reasons and general features of the observed effect in the polymer network
formation are discussed. Expressions are derived for determining the gelation point of the system studied in the
case of a polymer network formation by both chemical and physical contacts; the theory is compared to exper-
iment.

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