Abstract
Aminotriazine novolak (ATN) has been used as a hardener of epoxy resins for copper-clad glass epoxy laminates. 1.0 of phenolic OH / epoxy mole ratio (equivalent ratio) has been recommended up to this time in the ATN / epoxy curing system. However, nitrogen (or amino group) content of ATN should be considered to be a functional group of the hardener. The curing behavior at 1.0 of OH / epoxy ratio, therefore, was examined; this ratio gave the highest glass transition temperature (Tg) and longer gelation time (GT). ATN was more unstable than conventional novolak in heating, and the chemical structure of ATN changed gradually for a longer time at 250°C while little for a short time. Breaking of the bond between aminotriazine structure and methylene group may occur and result in changing the chemical structure to finally generate a free aminotriazine compound. As ATN was more stable under lower temperature conditions, it should be cured with epoxy resins at a temperature below 200 °C within a few hours.
