Abstract
Infrared spectroscopy was used to characterize changes in physicochemical properties of an epoxy-amine resin as a function of temperature. The thermal degradation of the system was studied by means of thermogravimetric analysis. The effect of heat on evolution of space charges was investigated by the thermal step method and the thermally stimulated depolarization currents method. It was found that heat induced ring opening of epoxide groups and promoted formation of carbonyl groups. Space charge density was found to increase with increasing temperature while dipolar relaxation decreased. (C) 2003 Society of Chemical Industry.