Reaction between amines and epoxy groups of acrylonitrile‐glycidyl acrylate copolymers

A kinetic approach to the reaction between epoxy groups and amines has been made with acrylonitrile‐glycidyl acrylate copolymers and model compounds. The reaction has been carried out at 70°C. in a dimethylformamide solution by using di‐n‐butylamide and diethanolamine. Second‐order kinetics has been observed in the reaction of model compounds and the copolymer containing a small amount of glycidyl acrylate. Whereas, in most cases of copolymers, the reaction has been very complex and it has been impossible to treat it quantitatively. An increase in nitrile content of the model compounds and copolymers caused an increase in the rate of reaction. It has been observed a neighboringgroup effect of nitrile and hydroxyl group on the reactivity of the epoxy group of the copolymers.