Toughening studies on an ABS/PC blend-modified epoxy resin system

Abstract

Studies were carried out on the toughening of a bifunctional epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A) matrix system with an ABS/PC thermoplastic blend. The thermoplastic blend was incorporated into the epoxy matrix by particle dispersion and melt-mix methods. The unmodified and modified epoxy resin systems were cured with a stoichiometric quantity of diamino diphenyl methane (DDM). The cured castings were characterized by measurement of glass transition temperature (T_g) by DsC, evaluation of plane strain fracture toughness (K_lc) by three-point bending tests and SEM analysis of non-etched and base/acid etched fracture surfaces. In genera] ABS/PC-modified (15% w/w) epoxy-resin-cured systems showed enhanced fracture toughness without lowering the glass transition temperature. The melt-mix method yielded higher fracture toughness than the particle dispersion method; this conclusion was also supported by scanning electron micrographs.

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