• Journal of Adhesion and Interface
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.32-38
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• 2006

A series of organic-inorganic hybrids, PCL/EP/$SiO_2$, involving epoxy resin and triethoxysilane-terminated polycaprolactone elastomer (PCL-TESi) were prepared via polymerization of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) with amine curing agent KB-2 and sol-gel process of PCL-TESi. The curing reactions were started from the initially homogeneous mixture of DGEBA, KB-2 and the PCL-TESi. The organicinorganic hybrids containing up to 4.95% (wt) of $SiO_2$ were obtained and characterized by FT-IR, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). It was experimentally shown that the swelling property in toluene, morphologies and thermal properties of the resulting hybrids were quite dependent on the contents of $SiO_2$. The crosslink network density decreases with increasing of the PCL-TESi. And in TEM, the phase separated morphology of these hybrids was found, which resulted from the coagulation of Si-O-Si networks resulting from $-Si(OC_2H_5)_3$ of PCL-TESi self-curing by hydrolytic silanol condensation, with the advancement of the curing reaction in the modified epoxy resin systems. Meanwhile, the change of the $SiO_2$ content made the morphologies changed from aggregated particles of Si-O-Si in the hybrid to nanocluster of interconnected Si-O-Si particles, then to aggregated Si-O-Si dispersing in the continuous cured epoxy phase again, and last to co-continuous interpenetrating network. The glass transition behavior of the hybrid material was cooperative motion of large chain segments, which were hindered by the inorganic Si-O-Si network. And in TG analysis, the characteristic temperature at 5% of weight loss was evidently increased from $120.5^{\circ}C$ of pure cured epoxy to $277.6^{\circ}C$ of 3.84% (wt) of $SiO_2$ modified epoxy due to the existence of Si-O-Si when PCL-TESi was added in the hybrid.

• Elastomers and Composites
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.149-158
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• 1998

SBR latex, polyurethane latex and epoxy latex were separately mixed with polyvinyl acetate emulsion. The various physical properties were examined for the mixtures. Epoxy mixtures gave a transparent film. Both polyurethane and SBR mixtures showed opaque film with high viscosity. In SBR and polyurethane increase in hardness was dependent on the evaporation rate of water, but in epoxy it was dependent on the degrees of crosslink. Epoxy's showed excellent water-resistance. SBR showed a good flexural strength and impact strength. When vinyl acetate emulsion was mixed with less than 10% latex paper tube showed the ductile fracture, but over latex content 20%, it showed the brittle fracture.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.690-700
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• 2000

In this study, an elastomer-assistered compression molding process was investigated by experiments as well as modeling for the long-fiber reinforced thermoset composites. The consolidation pressure generated by fixed-volume and variable-volume conditions was thermodynamically derived for both elastomer and curing prepregs, and was compared with the pressure measured during curing of epoxy matrix. Exhibiting non-linear viscoelastic characteristics in the compressive stress-strain tests, the measured stress was well compared with a modifed KWW (Kohlrausch-Williame-Watts) equation, which is based on the Maxwell viscoelastic model. Using the developed model equations, the consolidation pressure generated by the elastomer was successfully predicted for the compression molding process of thermoset composite materials in tile closed mold system.

• Composites Research
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.355-360
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• 2023

Epoxy-based carbon fibers reinforced plastic (CFRP) exhibit limitations in their suitability for industrial applications due to high brittleness characteristics. To address this challenge, extensive investigations are underway to enhance their toughness properties. This research focuses on evaluating the toughening mechanisms achieved by Polyamide 6 particles(p-PA6) and Carboxyl-Terminated Butadiene-Acrylonitrile (CTBN) elastomer, with a specific emphasis on utilizing minimal additive quantities. The study explores the impact of varying concentrations of p-PA6 and CTBN additives, namely 0.5, 1, 2.5, and 5 phr, through comprehensive Mode I fracture toughness and tensile strength analyses. The inclusion of p-PA6 demonstrated improvements in toughness when introduced at a relatively low content of 1phr. This improvement manifested as a sustained fracture behavior, contributing to enhanced toughness, while simultaneously maintaining the material's tensile strength. Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the incorporation of p-PA6 affected in particle aggregation, thus influencing the overall toughening mechanism. Incorporation of CTBN, an elastomeric modifier, exhibited a pronounced increase in fracture toughness at higher concentrations of 2.5 phr and beyond. However, this increase in toughness was accompanied by a reduction in tensile strength, resulting in fracture behavior similar to conventional CFRP exhibiting brittleness. The synergy between pPA6, CTBN and CFRP appeared to marginally enhance tensile strength under specific content conditions. As a result of this study, optimized conditions for the application of the p-PA6, CTBN toughening technology have been identified and established.