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Mechanical properties of an epoxy resin toughened by polyester
Author(s) -
Cao Youming,
Shao Yuefeng,
Sun Jun,
Lin Shang'An
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of applied polymer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.575
H-Index - 166
eISSN - 1097-4628
pISSN - 0021-8995
DOI - 10.1002/app.13007
Subject(s) - epoxy , polyester , materials science , ultimate tensile strength , composite material , izod impact strength test , gelcoat , toughening , composite epoxy material , polyester resin , polymer , toughness
The epoxy resins were toughened by 4–24 phr polyester with average molecular weight 1.9×10 4 g/mol in this investigation. The mechanical properties were examined and dynamic mechanics analyses were performed for the epoxy resins before and after the modification. The toughening mechanism of polyester to epoxy resin is discussed in light of the scanning electronic microscopy observation of the fracture surfaces. The results showed that the impact strength and tensile strength of the modified epoxy resin were remarkably greater than those of the unmodified cured epoxy resin. The most suitable composition for the modified epoxy resin was the addition of 16 phr polyester, which led to 138 and 46% increments in the impact strength and the tensile strength, respectively. And the mechanical properties depended greatly on the congregating state of polyester added. The polyester dispersing in the epoxy matrix was amorphous when its addition was less than or equal to 12 phr, and was sphere crystals when the addition was over 16 phr. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 3384–3389, 2003