AbstractThis study focuses on the processing‐structure‐property relations for salicylic acid modified high performance epoxy matrix systems for carbon fiber composites. Differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical data have shown that as the concentration of salicylic acid increases, the degree of cure first increases, reaches a maximum, and then decreases steadily. Analysis of the results indicated that small amounts of salicyclic acid accelerates the amine‐epoxide reactions resulting into crosslinked networks with increased degree of cure; increasing amounts, however, give rise to networks with reduced crosslinking by reducing the net available diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS) content in the system by a reaction of the DDS with salicylic acid. Overall, this study has demonstrated that salicyclic acid modification offers the potential for monitoring and controlling amine‐epoxide reactions that may influence the application and usage of epoxy matrices in composite