In this study, a thiirane resin was synthesized by the reaction of corresponding epoxy resin with KSCN. The synthetic conditions influencing the conversion of epoxy group were systematically investigated, such as the reaction temperature, reaction media, reaction time and the ratio of KSCN to epoxy group. It was found that the conversion of epoxy group increased with the increasing reaction temperature, improving the solubility of the mediate, extending reaction time, and the enhancing ratio of salt (KSCN) to epoxy group. Wherein, the reaction temperature and the ratio of the KSCN to epoxy group were more effective. For example, when the molar ratio of KSCN to epoxy group was equal to 2.0, the conversion of epoxy group got the maximum value, 0.65. In addition, the hot plate method was used to measure the gelling time of the resultant thiirane resin at different temperatures. It was found that the gelling time was reduced to 47-85% times as the corresponding epoxy resin depending on the conversion of the epoxy group, and the curing activation energy was diminished from 39 kJ/mol of epoxy resin to 17 kJ/mol. (c) 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.