Nanostructure in hybrid thermosets with interpenetrating networks and its effect on properties.
Hybrid resins composed of vinylester (VE) and aliphatic amine (Al-Am)-cured cycloaliphatic epoxy (Cal-EP) were produced and their morphology and properties (toughness, water uptake) determined. According to atomic force microscopy (AFM) results achieved on physically etched (ion eroded) specimens the hybrid resins possessed a nanoscaled interpenetrating network (IPN) structure, the characteristics of which depended on the VE/EP ratio. Characteristics of the IPN morphology, viz strand width and mean roughness data increase with increasing amount of the EP component. The fracture mechanical data (K(Q) and G(Q)) pass a maximum as a function of the VE/EP ratio, similar to that of the phase segregation term (alpha). The latter was deduced from dynamic-mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) traces. The water sorption and diffusion behavior of the interpenetrated VE/EP hybrids were controlled by the relative amount of the EP (Cal-EP+Al-Am) used.
Gryshchuk
O
O
Institut für Verbundwerkstoffe GmbH, Technische Universität, Kaiserslautem, P O. Box 3049, D-67653 Kaiserslautem, Germany.
Karger-Kocsis
J
J
D004058:Diffusion; D008422:Materials Testing; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D036103:Nanotechnology; D014867:Water
D014867:Water