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Toughening of epoxy resins by modification with aromatic polyesters
Author(s) -
Iijima Takao,
Tomoi Masao,
Tochimoto Takuya,
Kakiuchi Hiroshi
Publication year - 1991
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.1991.070430307
Subject(s) - epoxy , diglycidyl ether , phthalic anhydride , gelcoat , materials science , bisphenol a , polyester , toughness , toughening , composite material , polymer chemistry , organic chemistry , chemistry , catalysis
Aromatic polyesters, prepared by the reaction of phthalic or isophthalic acids and α,ω‐alkanediols, were used to reduce the brittleness of bisphenol‐A diglycidyl ether epoxy resin cured with methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride. These polyesters were effective as modifiers for toughening of the epoxy resin system. The most suitable composition for modification of the epoxy resins was inclusion of 20 wt % of poly(ethylene phthalate) (MW 7200), which resulted in a 150% increase in the fracture toughness ( K IC ) of the cured resin at no expense of its mechanical properties. The effectiveness of poly(alkylene phthalate)s as modifiers decreased with increasing the chain length of alkylene units. The toughening mechanism was discussed based on the morphological and dynamic mechanical behaviors of the modified epoxy resin system.