A study on properties of epoxy resin toughened by functionalized polymer containing rigid, rod-like moiety

• Published in: European polymer journal Vol. 36; no. 1; pp. 205 - 213
• Main Authors: Zhang, Bao-Long, Tang, Guang-Liang, Shi, Ke-Yu, You, Ying-Cai, Du, Zong-Jie, Yang, Jian-Feng, Huang, Jifu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2000; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Exact sciences and technology; Mechanical properties; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Properties and characterization; Polymer blends; Telechelic polymer; Epoxy resin; Mechanical properties; Guanidines; Experimental study; Oligomer; Molecular weight property relation; Dynamic mechanical properties; Curing(plastics); Morphology; Polyurethane; Concentration effect; Reaction mechanism; Chemical reactivity; Activation energy; Modified material
• ISSN: 0014-3057; 1873-1945
• DOI: 10.1016/S0014-3057(99)00032-4

A series of novel reactive toughening agents defined as LCEU PEG containing both flexible chain and rigid, rod-like moiety were synthesized and used to modify the epoxy resin (E-51)/dicyandiamide (dicy) curing system. The curing reactivity, apparent activation energy E a, curing mechanism, dynamic mechanical behavior, impact strength of E-51/LCEU PEG/dicy systems was studied. The results show that the addition of LCEU PEG to epoxy resin and dicy curing system has apparently accelerated the curing reaction, reduced the apparent activation energy E a of the curing reaction by about 60 kJ/mol, and decreased the curing temperature by about 50°C. In addition, the high modulus and good thermal properties are maintained, and the impact strength is enhanced by three to seven times compared with that of the unmodified sample.