Thermoplastic Toughened Epoxy Networks and Their Toughening Mechanisms in Some Systems

Metha Rutnakornpituk

Authors

Metha Rutnakornpituk Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Naresuan University, Phitsanulok 65000, Thailand.

Keywords:

toughening, epoxy, network, thermoplastic

Abstract

Epoxy resins have drawn a lot of attentions as construction materials in recent years due to their excellent mechanical and thermal properties. However, their brittleness is a major disadvantage which significantly limits their uses. Incorporation of thermoplastic polymers has found to overcome this drawback. Literature reviews in using various thermoplastic polymers, e.g., poly(phenylene oxide) (PPO), polysulfone (PSF) and polyetherimide (PEI), have been summarized herein. The toughening mechanisms that have been proposed and the measurement of their mechanical properties are also discussed.

References

Bucknall, C. B., & Gilbert, A. H. (1989). Toughening tetrafunctional epoxy resins using polyetherimid. Polymer, 30, 213-219.

Bucknall, C. B., & Partridge, I. K. (1986). Phase-separation in cross-linked resins containing polymeric modifiers. Polymer Engineering & Science, 26, 54.

Chikhi, N., Fellahi, S., & Bakar, M. (2002). Modification of epoxy resin using reactive liquid (ATBN) rubber. European Polymer Journal, 3, 251-264.

de Nograra, F. F., Llano-Ponte, R., & Mondragon, I. (1996). Dynamic and mechanical properties of epoxy networks obtained with PPO based amines/mPDA mixed curing agents. Polymer, 37, 1589-1600.

Gilbert, A. H., & Bucknall, C. B. (1991). Epoxy-resin toughened with thermoplastic. Makromolecular Chemie, Macromolecular Symposium, 45, 289-298.

Girard-Reydet, E., Sautereau, H., & Pascault, J. P. (1999). Use of block copolymers to control the morphologies and properties of thermoplastic/thermoset blends. Polymer, 40, 1677-1687.

Hendrick, J. L., Yilkor, I., Jurek, M., Hedrick, J. C., Wilkes, G. L., & McGrath, J. E. (1991). Chemical modification of matrix resin networks with engineering thermoplastics: 1. Synthesis, morphology, physical behaviour and toughening mechanisms of poly(arylene ether sulphone) modified epoxy networks. Polymer, 32, 2020-2032.

Hourston, D. J., Lane, J. M., & Zhang, H. X. (1997). Toughening of epoxy resins with thermoplastics: 3. An investigation into the effects of composition on the properties of epoxy resin blends. Polymer International, 42, 349-355.

Huang, P., Zheng, S., Huang, J., & Guo, Q. (1997). Miscibility and mechanical properties of epoxy resin/polysulfone blends. Polymer, 38, 5565-5571.

Kinloch, A. J., Maxwell, D., & Young, R. J. (1985). Micromechanisms of crack-propagation in hybrid-particulate composites. Journal of Material Science Letter, 4, 1276.

Li, L., Liu, M., & Li, S. (2004). Morphology effect on water sorption behavior in a thermoplastic modified epoxy resin system. Polymer, 45, 2837-2842

Li, S., Hsu, B. L., Li, F., Li, C. Y., Harris, F. W., & Cheng, S. Z. D. (1999). A study of polyimide thermoplastics used as tougheners in epoxy resins-structure, property and solubility relationships. Thermochimica Acta, 340, 221-229.

McGrath, J. E., Pak, S. J., Lyle, G. D., & Mercier, M. (1993). Synthesis and characterization of novel toughened thermosets derived from pendent amines on the backbone of poly (arylene ether sulphone)s. Polymer, 34, 885-895.

Mimura, K. , Ito, H., & Fujioka, H. (2001). Toughening of epoxy resin modified with in situ polymerized thermoplastic polymers. Polymer, 49, 9223-9233.

Min, B. G., Hodgkin, J. H., & Stachurski, Z. H. (1993). Reaction mechanisms, microstructure, and fracture properties of thermoplastic polysulfone-modified epoxy resin. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 50, 1065-1073.

Min, B. G., Stachurski, Z. H., & Hodgkin, J. H. (1993). Microstructural effects and the toughening of thermoplastic modified epoxy resins. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 50, 1511-1518.

Murakami, A., Saunders, D., Ooishi K., & Yoshiki, T. (1992). Fracture-behavior of thermoplastic modified epoxy resins. Journal of Adhesion, 39, 227-242.

Pearson, R. A., & Yee, A. F. (1993). The preparation and morphology of PPO-epoxy blends. Journal of Applied Polymer Science, 48, 1051-1060.

Pearson, R. A., & Yee, A. F. (1993). Toughening mechanisms in thermoplastic-modified epoxies: 1. Modification using poly(phenylene oxide). Polymer, 34, 3658-3670.

Poncet, S., Boiteux, G., Pascault, J. P., Sautereau, H., Seytre, G., Rogozinski, J., et al. (1999). Monitoring phase separation and reaction advancement in situ in thermoplastic/epoxy blends. Polymer, 40, 6811-6820.

Rajagopalan, G., Gillespie, J. W., Jr. & McKnight, S. H. (2000). Diffusion of reacting epoxy and amine monomers in polysulfone: A diffusivity model. Polymer, 41, 7723-7733.

Riffle, J. S., Yilgor, T. I. C., Wilkes, G. L., McGrath, J. E., & Banthia, A. K. (1983). Elastomeric polysiloxane modifiers for epoxy networks: Synthesis of functional oligomers and network formation studies. In R. S. Bauer (Series Ed.), ACS Symposium Series: Vol. 221. Epoxy resin chemistry II (pp.21-54). Washington, DC: American Chemical Society. Siddhamalli, S. K. (2000). Phase-separation behavior in poly(ether imide)-modified epoxy blends. Polymer- Plastic Technology & Engineering, 39, 699-710.

Srinivasan, S. A., & McGrath, J. E. (1998). Amorphous phenolphthalein-based poly(arylene ether) modified cyanate ester networks: 1. Effect of molecular weight and backbone chemistry on morphology and toughenability. Polymer, 39, 2415-2427.

Sue, H. J., Garcia-Meitin, E. I., & Pickelman, D. M. (1996). Fracture behavior of rubber-modified high performance epoxies. In C. B. Arends (Ed.), Polymer toughening (pp.136-174). New York: Marcel Dekker.

Sue, H. J., Puckett, P. M., Bertram, J. L., & Walker, L. L. (2000). The network structure of epoxy systems and its relationship to toughness and toughenability. In R. A. Pearson, H. J. Sue, & A. F. Yee (Series Eds.), ACS Symposium Series: Vol. 759. Toughening of Plastics (pp.171-197). Washington, DC: American Chemical Society.

van Overbeke, E., Carlier, V., Devaux, J., Carter, J. T., McGrail, P. T., & Legras, R. (2000). The use of Raman spectroscopy to study the reaction between an amine-terminated thermoplastic and epoxy resins. Polymer, 41, 8241-8245.

van Overbeke, E., Devaux, J., Legras, R., Carter, J. T., McGrail, P. T., & Carlier, V. (2003). Phase separation in epoxy-copolyethersulphone blends: Morphologies and local characterisation by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Polymer, 44, 4899-4908.

Varley, R. J., Hodgkin, J. H., Hawthorne, D. G., Simon, G. P., & McCulloch, D. (2000). Toughening of a trifunctional epoxy system: Part III. Kinetic and morphological study of the thermoplastic modified cure process. Polymer, 41, 3425-3436.

Varley, R. J., Hodgkin, J. H., & Simon, G. P. (2001). Toughening of a trifunctional epoxy system: Part VI. Structure property relationships of the thermoplastic toughened system. Polymer, 42, 3847-3858.

Wu, S. J., Lin, T. K., & Shyu, S. S. (2000). Cure behavior, morphology, and mechanical properties of the melt blends of epoxy with polyphenylene oxide. Journal of Applied Polymer Sciences, 75, 26-34.

Yoon, T. H., Priddy, D. H., Lyle, G. D., Jr., & McGrath, J. E. (1995). Hydrolytically stable thermo plastic and thermosetting poly(arylene phosphine oxide) material systems.

Macromolecular Symposium, 98, 673-686.