Micro- and Nanostructured Epoxy/Rubber Blends

Epoxy resins are polymers which are extensively used as coating materials due to their outstanding mechanical properties and good handling characteristics. A disadvantage results from their high cross-link density: they are brittle and have very low resistance to crack growth and propagation. This necessitates the toughening of the epoxy matrix without impairing its good thermomechanical properties. The final properties of the polymer depend on their structure. The book focuses on the microstructural aspects in the modification of epoxy resins with low molecular weight liquid rubbers, one of the prime toughening agents commonly employed. The book follows thoroughly the reactions of elastomer-modified epoxy resins from their liquid stage to the network formation. It gives an in-depth view into the cure reaction, phase separation and the simultaneous development of the morphology. Chapters on ageing, failure analysis and life cycle analysis round out the book.

Epoxy resins are polymers which are extensively used as coating materials due to their outstanding mechanical properties and good handling characteristics. A disadvantage results from their high cross-link density: they are brittle and have very low resistance to crack growth and propagation. This necessitates the toughening of the epoxy matrix without impairing its good thermomechanical properties. The nal properties of the polymer depend on their structure. The book focuses on the microstructural aspects in the modi cation of epoxy resins with low molecular weight liquid rubbers, one of the prime toughening agents commonly employed.The book follows thoroughly the reactions of elastomer-modi ed epoxy resins from their liquid stage to the network formation. It gives an in-depth view into the cure reaction, phase separation and the simultaneous development of the morphology. Chapters on ageing, failure analysis and life cycle analysis round out the book.

PrefaceINTRODUCTIONEpoxy Resin - IntroductionCure ReactionsCuring AgentsCatalytic CureCo-reactive CurePrimary and Secondary AminesMercaptansIsocyanatesCarboxylic AcidsAcid AnhydridesDifferent Curing MethodsThermal CuringMicrowave CuringRadiation CuringElectron Beam CuringGamma Ray IrradiationCuring of Epoxy Resins: Structure-Property RelationshipToughening of Epoxy ResinDifferent Toughening AgentsLiquid Elastomers for Toughening Epoxy MatricesRigid Crystalline PolymersHygrothermal Toughening AgentsCore-Shell ParticlesNanoparticles for Epoxy TougheningThermoplastic Modification of Epoxy ResinBlock Copolymers as Modifiers for Epoxy ResinRubber-Modified Epoxy Resin: Factors Influencing TougheningConcentration EffectsParticle Size and Distribution of RubberEffect of TemperatureEffect of RubberInterfacial AdhesionToughening Mechanisms in Elastomer-Modified Epoxy ResinsParticle DeformationShear YieldingCrazingSimultaneous Shear Yielding and CrazingCrack PinningCavitation and RumplesQuantitative Assessment of Toughening MechanismsIntroduction of ChaptersLIQUID RUBBERES AS TEOUGHENING AGENTSIntroductionToughening of Thermoset ResinsFracture Behavior of Rubber-Toughened ThermosetsNatural RubbersPreparation Method of LNROxidation in the Presence of Redox SystemOxidation by Photochemical MethodOxidation at High Temperatures and High PressuresOxidation by Cleavage Reagent Specific to Double BondsMetathesis DegradationLiquid-Toughening Rubber in Thermoset ResinsConcluding RemarksNANOSTRUCTURED EPOXY COMPOSITESIntroductionPreparation Methods of the Nanostructured Epoxy ThermosetMorphology of the Nanostructured Epoxy ThermosetParameters Controlling the MorphologiesBlends CompositionThe Choice of Curing AgentTopological Architecture of the CopolymerMicrophase Separation MechanismSelf-Assembly MechanismReaction-Induced Microphase Separation MechanismMechanical and Thermal PropertiesFracture ToughnessGlass Transition TemperatureConclusions and OutlooksMANUFACTURE OF EPOXY RESIN/LIQUID RUBBER BLENDSIntroductionComparison of HardenersRubber-Toughened Epoxy ResinsCure Reaction AnalysisConclusionsCURUE AND CURE KINETICS OF EPOXY-RUBBER SYSTEMSIntroductionCure AnalysisCuring KineticsKinetics AnalysisAutocatalytic ModelActivation EnergiesDynamic Kinetics MethodsIsothermal MethodsDiffusion FactorDifferential Scanning CalorimetryDynamic DSCIsothermal DSCFTIR SpectroscopyDielectric Spectroscopy Thermal MethodPressure-Volume-Temperature (PVT) MethodDynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) and Rheological MethodsConclusionsAcknowledgmentsTHEORETICAL MODELING OF THE CURING PROCESSIntroductionModeling of the Curing KineticsMechanistic ApproachPhenomenological Models Describing the Reactionnth-Order ModelAutocatalytic ModelKamal and Sourour ModelBailleul ModelRheological ModelsGel Time ModelViscosity ModelEffect of Vitrification (Tg ) on the Reaction RateApplications of the Empirical ModelsConclusionPHASE-SPARATION MECHANISM IN EPOXY RESIN/RUBBER BLENDSIntroductionThermodynamics of Phase SeparationNucleation and Growth MechanismSpinodal DecompositionPhase Separation in Uncured Epoxy Resin/Liquid Rubber BlendsPhase-Separation Mechanism in Cured BlendsConclusionMORPHOLOGY ANALYSIS BY MICROSOPY TECHNIQUES AND LIGHT SCATTERINGIntroductionDevelopments of Morphology Analysis in Rubber-Modified EpoxiesOptical Microscopy (OM)Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM)Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)Small-Angle Light Scattering (SALS)Different Types of MorphologiesPhase-Separation Morphology of Epoxy/Rubbers BlendsMorphology of HybridsHomogeneous MorphologyMorphology of Toughening and Reinforcing EffectsConventional AdditivesHyperbranched PolymersConclusionsAcknowledgmentsPRES