Journal of Applied Polymer Science, Vol.61, No.1, 163-175, 1996
Toughening of Aromatic Diamine-Cured Epoxy-Resins by Poly(Butylene Phthalate)S and the Related Copolyesters
Aromatic polyesters, prepared by the reaction of aromatic dicarboxylic acids and 1,4-butanediol, were used to improve the toughness of bisphenol-A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin cured with p,p’-diaminodiphenyl sulfone. These polyesters contained poly(butylene phthalate)s (PBP), poly(butylene phthalate-co-butylene isophthalate)s, poly(butylene phthalate-co-butylene terephthalate)s, and poly(butylene phthalate-co-butylene 2,6-naphthalene di-carboxylate)s. All aromatic polyesters used in this study were soluble in the epoxy resin without solvents and were found to be effective as modifiers for toughening the cured epoxy resin. For example, the inclusion of 20 wt % PBP (MW 16,300) led to a 120% increase in the fracture toughness (K-IC) of the cured resin with no loss of mechanical and thermal properties. The toughening mechanism was discussed in terms of the morphological and dynamic viscoelastic behaviors of the modified epoxy resin system.
Keywords:PHENYLMALEIMIDE STYRENE COPOLYMERS;CROSS-LINK DENSITY;ENGINEERING THERMOPLASTICS;CHEMICAL MODIFICATION;ACRYLIC ELASTOMERS;FRACTURE-TOUGHNESS;BUTYL ACRYLATE;POLYETHERSULFONE;MECHANISMS;NETWORKS