DSC study on the effect of cure reagents on the lignin base epoxy cure reaction

Abstract The cure reactions of liquid lignin base epoxy resin (LEPL) with three different curing agents, viz., methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride, maleic anhydride, and 2‐methyl‐4‐methylimidazole (EMI‐2,4), were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry. Cure kinetics was evaluated using the multiple heating rate Kissinger method. The reactivities of the three curing agents were compared based on kinetics results obtained by DSC. FTIR spectra of these curing systems were also studied. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007