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Macrostructure and environment‐influenced surface layer in epoxy polymers
Author(s) -
Cuthrell R. E.
Publication year - 1967
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.1967.070110614
Subject(s) - epoxy , polymer , materials science , composite material , layer (electronics) , surface layer , dielectric , surface energy , thermoplastic , etching (microfabrication) , optoelectronics
Several epoxy polymers were shown to be two‐phase systems; roughly spherical floccules arranged in layers in an interstitial fluid resembling the starting materials. The size of the floccules was found to be dependent on the initial rate of cure of a given polymer. The density, hardness, glass transition temperature, etching rate, and dielectric strength were related to the floccule size. The surface layer in the epoxy polymers and in several thermoplastic polymers was found to be different from the bulk material. The properties of the surface layer are dependent on the surface energy of the mold material and on the atmospheric environment. A gradient in properties was found to extend from the polymer surface several hundred microns into the bulk.