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Studies on the phase separation of polyetherimide‐modified epoxy resin, 3 . Morphology development of the blend during curing
Author(s) -
Cui Jun,
Yu Yinfeng,
Li Shanjun
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1521-3935(19980801)199:8<1645::aid-macp1645>3.0.co;2-k
Subject(s) - polyetherimide , epoxy , materials science , curing (chemistry) , spinodal decomposition , scanning electron microscope , miscibility , composite material , morphology (biology) , phase (matter) , polymer chemistry , chemical engineering , polymer , chemistry , organic chemistry , biology , engineering , genetics
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to trace the development of the morphology of polyetherimide‐modified epoxy resins. On the basis of SEM results and the change of the glass transition temperature of the blends during curing, different phase formation processes were found and discussed. Regarding the low molecular weight polyetherimide‐modified system, the phase separation follows a spinodal decomposition mechanism. However, the poor miscibility of high molecular weight polyetherimide with epoxy resin causes the PEI‐rich phase to separate in an early stage of curing. As a result, the separated phase, about 10–20 μm in dimension with fine structure in it, is not the same as that observed in ordinary phase separation processes.