The curing behavior of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) with aromatic imide-amines having aryl ether, sulfone, and methylene linkages was studied using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Six imide-amines of varying structure were synthesized by reacting 1 mol of naphthalene 1,4,5,8-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (N) or 4,4'-oxodiphthalic anhydride (O) with excess (>2 mol) of 4,4'-diaminodiphenylether [E] or 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl methane [M] or 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl sulfone [S]. The imide-amines prepared by reacting O or N with S, M, and E have been designated as OS/NS; OM/NM, and OE/NE, respectively. Structural characterization of imide-amines was done using FTIR, H-1 NMR, C-13 NMR, and elemental analysis. The curing behavior of DGEBA in the presence by recording DSC scans. A broad exothermic transition was observed and the peak exotherm temperature was found to be dependent on the structure of imide-amines. The peak exotherm temperature (T-p) was lowest in case of imide-amines OE and highest in case of imide-amines NS/OS. Thermal stability of isothermally cured DGEBA in the presence of imide-amines was evaluated by dynamic thermogravimetry. The char yield was highest for resin cured with imide-amines NE. (c) 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.