A rubber-modified epoxy composite with very high toughness and heat resistance

Abstract

A high performance epoxy composite with very high toughness and heat resistance had been designed and prepared. Epoxy resin TDE-85 with an impact strength of 10.2 kJ m−2, a heat distortion temperature (HDT) of 121°C, and a glass transition temperature of 127°C was chosen as the matrix of the composite, while carboxylic nitrile-butadiene elastomeric nanoparticles (CNB-ENPs) coated with triethanolamine on the surface with a diameter of about 100 nm was selected as the modifier. Surprisingly, the rubber-modified epoxy resin exhibited not only very high toughness but also very high heat resistance. The HDT of epoxy resin TDE-85 after modification increased 57°C, reaching 178°C, while the impact strength increased by 107%, increasing to 21.1 kJ m−2. The relationship between the microstructure and performance had been evaluated by transmission electron microscopy, mechanical testing, and dynamic mechanical analysis. The results showed that the CNB-ENP/TDE-85 composite resulted in large interface and a special morphology after modification.