The structure of curing agents has an significant impact on curing behavior of epoxy resin and properties of cured compounds.Three amine curing agents

polyether amine(D230)

alicyclic amine isophorone diamine(IPDA)

3

3′-dimethyl4

4′-diaminodicyclohexyl methane(DMDC)were used for curing a selfmade low viscosity epoxy resin A.The curing process of the epoxy resin system cured with the curing agent under different curing times and curing temperatures were monitored by viscosity analysis

infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy

and differential scanning calorimetry analysis(DSC).The influence of curing temperature on tensile strength and elongation was investigated by universal testing machine.The results showed that curing reaction activation energy(Ea)of the three epoxy resin/hardener systems were 59.6 kJ·mol-1，50.9 kJ·mol-1 and 54.9 kJ·mol-1

respectively.Compared with aliphatic amine curing agent D230

the products cured with alicyclic curing agents IPDA and DMDC showed higher reaction activity and could result in higher degree of curing

higher tensile strength and greater elongation. Furthermore

curing agent DMDC with bicyclic structure could provide even more excellent toughness.