Toughening of Epoxy Networked Polymer Using Polymer Blends

Abstract

Various modifiers, such as elastomers, thermoplastic resins, inorganic fillers, etc., have been blended with epoxy resins in order to improve several functional properties. Even if the modifier type and addition amount were the same, the toughening effect depended on the combination with the epoxy and curing agent as the counter parts. In this review, the toughening technologies of the epoxy networked polymer blends were classified and discussed based on the toughening mechanisms. Toughening using elastomer blend highly depended on the plastic deformation capacity of the epoxy matrix. On the other hand, toughening using thermoplastic polymer blend depended on the physical properties of the polymeric modifiers, and on the phase structures. In the case of block copolymer blends, the toughening mechanism was close to elastomer blends. Several shapes of nanostructures of elastomeric phases in several tens of nanometer size were reported. The toughening effect depended on the types of nanostructures.