Studies on the phase separation of a polyetherimide-modified epoxy resin, 4. Kinetic effect on the phase separation mechanism of a blend at different cure rates

Abstract

Keeping the same thermodynamics of the blend, the kinetic effect on the phase separation mechanism of polyetherimide modified epoxy resin systems was studied. With the changes of cure temperature and amount of cure agent, at different cure rates phase separation in the reacted blends takes place. The process of phase separation is traced by time-resolved light scattering (TRLS) and the final morphology is observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The early stage of phase separation is analyzed using Cahn's linearized theory, while the scaling postulate is tested in the late stage. The effect of the competition between thermodynamics and kinetics on phase separation mechanism is discussed.