New diepoxy crosslinkers (Cr-1, Cr-2 and Cr-3) containing thermally degradable sulfonate ester linkage were synthesized and characterized. From TGA analysis degradation temperatures (T(d), 5 wt% degradation) of Cr-1, Cr-2, and Cr-3 were found to be 183, 162, and 157 degreesC, respectively. The blended system of the crosslinkers and polymers such as poly(vinylphenol), copolymers of methacrylic acid, and polymers containing epoxy moiety and sulfonate units in the side chain showed the thermal crosslinking and decrosslinking behaviors. The mixed crosslinkers without the polymer also showed the thermal crosslinking-decrosslinking behavior. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.