The aging behavior of ultra-thin epoxy films (DGEBA and DETA) on metal substrates (Al, Au, Cu) has been studied in order to reveal substrate influences on chemical aging mechanisms in the interphase region that differ from bulk aging. Different environmental conditions have been applied at 40 8C for up to 100 days to separate the roles of temperature, H 2 O, and O 2 in aging. The film thickness was varied (60-650 nm) in order to identify the influence of the metal substrate on the aging behavior in the interphase. Quantitative evaluation of the IR spectra provided the following results. Contrary to the bulk, the initial epoxy group conversion of the thin films was incomplete. During aging, post-curing took place that was catalytically enhanced by metal substrates in a specific way and by the presence of water, and characteristic aging bands appeared. Their interrelation was more complex than described in the literature. It was shown that the metallic substrates, the aging conditions, and the epoxy film thickness influenced the aging effects and their kinetics. With these experimental results, chemical aging mechanisms are discussed.