Abstract: A epoxybased latent curing systems were prepared by using bisphenolA type epoxy resin as a raw material and zinc acrylate (ZDA) as a latent curing agent. The molecular structure of this curing system was characterized by Fouriertransform infrared spectroscopy, and the effect of ZDA content on its curing behavior and properties were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry in the nonisothermal process. Furthermore, the apparent activation energy of curing reaction was calculated by Kissinger's and Ozawa's method. The activation energy of curing reaction was found to decrease with an increase of ZDA content, indicating an easier reaction for this curing system. Thermogravimetric analysis results indicated that the thermal stability of the epoxy thermosets decreased with increasing the ZDA content. The thermoset containing 15 phr of ZDA achieved a maximum value in flexural strength, flexural modulus and tensile strength, which were 89.25 MPa, 2.68 GPa and 48.21 MPa, respectively. Scanning electron microscopic observation demonstrated that there was a brittleductile transition occurring with the gradual increase of curing agent, thus enhancing the impact toughness of the thermosetting materials.