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Development of a novel toughener for epoxy resins
Author(s) -
Dai JiaBin,
Kuan HsuChiang,
Du XuShen,
Dai ShaoCong,
Ma Jun
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.2604
Subject(s) - polyurea , epoxy , materials science , composite material , toughness , fracture toughness , thermoplastic , natural rubber , composite number , polyurethane
BACKGROUND: Conventional tougheners for brittle epoxy resins form micrometre‐sized particles with ineffective interfaces, and meet toughening requirements with 10–20 wt% of toughener, which unfortunately causes deterioration of other desirable properties. RESULTS: We developed a novel polyurea toughener using a facile synthesis method from isophorone diisocyanate and polyoxyalkyleneamine. Polyurea forms thick‐interface particles, and creates an effective toughness improvement: 265% increase in fracture energy release rate. More importantly, polyurea causes no deterioration of other important properties. Different from conventional epoxy/rubber or epoxy/thermoplastic composites, the epoxy/polyurea composite shows Newtonian rheological behaviour, a convenient property for processing. CONCLUSION: This study describes a novel polyurea toughener. Its unique feature is that toughness can be significantly improved at low toughener content (5 wt%) without losing other desirable properties. The study illuminates the importance of the interface for toughening in polymer blends/composites. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry