This work involved the application of luminescence spectroscopy under steady-state conditions to study the curing process of the epoxy resin diglycidyl-ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) using the curing agents 4,4'-diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM) and 4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone (DDS). Two fluorescence methods were employed: the intrinsic method related to the polymeric matrix and the extrinsic method, using the molecular probe 9-anthroic acid (9-AA). Stoichiometric mixtures, with and without 9-AA, were heated to 120 °C at a 5 °C/min heating rate. These samples were then cured at 120 °C for a further 2 hours and allowed to cool to room temperature for 20 minutes. The results obtained by the two methods indicate that the cross-linking reaction can be monitored by analyzing the spectral changes of the emission bands of DGEBA, curing agents and 9-AA.
composites; intrinsic luminescence; extrinsic luminescence; heat treatment
