Thermomechanical properties and morphology of blends of a novel thermoplastic co-polymer and epoxy resin

The present paper is about a study on the effects onthermomechanical properties of an epoxy resin system blended with anamine ended PES:PEES (polyethersulphone-polyetherethersulphone)copolymer. Four different epoxy systems, each containing differentamounts of toughening agent, were fully characterised in terms of morphology, viscoelastic properties and fracture resistance. Moistureresistance of the systems was investigated. Morphologies varying fromparticulate, for low thermoplastic content, to phase inverted, for higherthermoplastic content, were obtained. The effect of observedmorphologies on viscoelastic properties in the solid state was studiedby means of D.M.T.A. (Dynamic Mechanic Thermal Analysis) in a bendmode configuration. An increase in toughness with an increase ofthermoplastic amount was observed.