Mechanical properties and fracture behaviors of epoxy composites with multi-scale rubber particles

Abstract In this work, we developed a strategy to balance the toughness and thermal resistance of epoxy composites by incorporating the multi-scale rubber particles. Two types of rubber i.e. the phase-separation-formed submicron liquid rubber (LR) and preformed nano-scale powered rubber (PR) particles were chosen as tougheners. It was found that the combination of these multi-scale rubber particles not only provides superior efficiency in enhancing the impact resistance of epoxy composites, but also results in balanced glass transition temperature. In particular, the highest gain in impact strength was obtained for the ternary composites containing 9.2 wt% submicron liquid rubber and 9.2 wt% nano-sized powered rubber which were ∼112% higher than the maximum enhancements of ∼49% and ∼66% for the corresponding binary composite systems with the single-phase rubber, respectively. The damage zone observation and fracture surface analysis suggested that the combined use of multi-scale particles was effective to promote matrix plastic deformation including void growth and shear banding induced by the improved rubber cavitation/debonding, which is likely responsible for the highly improved impact resistance of the ternary composites.

[1]  R. Pearson,et al.  Role of particle cavitation in rubber-toughened epoxies: II. Inter-particle distance , 2000 .

[2]  Xusheng Du,et al.  Study of epoxy toughened by in situ formed rubber nanoparticles , 2008 .

[3]  C. Pichot,et al.  Synthesis of hairy acrylic core‐shell particles as toughening agents for epoxy networks , 2000 .

[4]  J. Karger‐Kocsis,et al.  Fatigue crack propagation and related failure in modified, andhydride-cured epoxy resins , 1992 .

[5]  J. Chen,et al.  Epoxy modified with triblock copolymers: morphology, mechanical properties and fracture mechanisms , 2012, Journal of Materials Science.

[6]  F. Bates,et al.  Strain rate effect on toughening of nano-sized PEP–PEO block copolymer modified epoxy , 2009 .

[7]  L. Ye,et al.  Fracture mechanisms of epoxy-based ternary composites filled with rigid-soft particles , 2012 .

[8]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Influence of carboxyl‐terminated (butadiene‐co‐acrylonitrile) loading on the mechanical and thermal properties of cured epoxy blends , 2004 .

[9]  Zhong Zhang,et al.  Fracture mechanisms of epoxy filled with ozone functionalized multi-wall carbon nanotubes , 2011 .

[10]  A. Clearfield,et al.  Fracture behavior of α-zirconium phosphate-based epoxy nanocomposites , 2004 .

[11]  R. Pearson,et al.  Role of particle cavitation in rubber-toughened epoxies: 1. Microvoid toughening , 1996 .

[12]  Jie Kong,et al.  Study on modification of epoxy resins with acrylate liquid rubber containing pendant epoxy groups , 2006 .

[13]  G. Levita,et al.  Influence of the temperature of cure on the mechanical properties of ATBN/epoxy blends , 1985 .

[14]  Xusheng Du,et al.  Development of a novel toughener for epoxy resins , 2009 .

[15]  M. Gabr,et al.  A study on mechanical properties of bacterial cellulose/epoxy reinforced by plain woven carbon fiber modified with liquid rubber , 2010 .

[16]  L. Luong,et al.  Structure-property relations of 55 nm particle-toughened epoxy , 2010 .

[17]  Yang Weimin,et al.  Miscibility, morphology, thermal, and mechanical properties of a DGEBA based epoxy resin toughened with a liquid rubber , 2008 .

[18]  K. Friedrich,et al.  Fracture behaviours of in situ silica nanoparticle-filled epoxy at different temperatures , 2008 .

[19]  R. Assink,et al.  Characterization of the phase structure of an amine cured rubber modified epoxy , 1981 .

[20]  F. Bates,et al.  Nanocavitation in Self-Assembled Amphiphilic Block Copolymer-Modified Epoxy , 2008 .

[21]  H. Sue.  Craze-like damage in a core-shell rubber-modified epoxy system , 1992 .

[22]  Zhong Zhang,et al.  A novel failure analysis of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in epoxy matrix , 2011 .

[23]  Epoxy resin/liquid natural rubber system: secondary phase separation and its impact on mechanical properties , 2010 .

[24]  J. Karger‐Kocsis,et al.  Thermoplastic elastomers based on compatibilized poly(ethylene terephthalate) blends: effect of rubber type and dynamic curing , 2001 .

[25]  K. Masania,et al.  Toughening of epoxy using core–shell particles , 2011 .

[26]  S. J. Shaw,et al.  Deformation and fracture behaviour of a rubber-toughened epoxy: 1. Microstructure and fracture studies , 1983 .

[27]  M. Tian,et al.  Modification of starch for high performance elastomer , 2006 .

[28]  G. Lai,et al.  Fracture toughness and electrical conductivity of epoxy composites filled with carbon nanotubes and spherical particles , 2013 .

[29]  D. Xiong,et al.  Improved thermal conductivity of epoxy composites using a hybrid multi-walled carbon nanotube/micro-SiC filler , 2010 .

[30]  P. C. Deb,et al.  Acrylate-based liquid rubber as impact modifier for epoxy resin , 2001 .

[31]  A. Yee,et al.  Toughening mechanisms in elastomer-modified epoxies , 1986 .

[32]  A. Kinloch,et al.  The interlaminar toughness of carbon-fibre reinforced plastic composites using ‘hybrid-toughened’ matrices , 2006 .

[33]  Sabu Thomas,et al.  Cure kinetics, morphology and miscibility of modified DGEBA-based epoxy resin – Effects of a liquid rubber inclusion , 2007 .

[34]  D. Ratna,et al.  Toughened epoxy adhesive modified with acrylate based liquid rubber , 2000 .

[35]  Yiqun Liu,et al.  Effect of Elastomeric Nanoparticles on Toughness and Heat Resistance of Epoxy Resins , 2002 .

[36]  A. Ozturk,et al.  Effects of liquid rubber modification on the behaviour of epoxy resin , 2001 .

[37]  U. Ojha,et al.  Polyisobutylene Modified Bisphenol A Diglycidyl Ether Based Epoxy Resins Possessing Improved Mechanical Properties , 2011 .

[38]  L. Calabrese,et al.  Effect of CTBN rubber inclusions on the curing kinetic of DGEBA–DGEBF epoxy resin , 2003 .

[39]  Albert F. Yee,et al.  Influence of particle size and particle size distribution on toughening mechanisms in rubber-modified epoxies , 1991 .

[40]  J. Karger‐Kocsis,et al.  Synergetic role of nanoparticles and micro-scale short carbon fibers on the mechanical profiles of epoxy resin , 2011 .

[41]  N. Chikhi,et al.  Modification of epoxy resin using reactive liquid (ATBN) rubber , 2002 .

[42]  J. Karger‐Kocsis,et al.  Microstructure-related fracture toughness and fatigue crack growth behaviour in toughened, anhydride-cured epoxy resins , 1993 .

[43]  S. Shaw,et al.  Deformation and fracture behaviour of a rubber-toughened epoxy: 2. Failure criteria , 1983 .

[44]  Yiqun Liu,et al.  Effect of elastomeric nanoparticles on properties of phenolic resin , 2005 .

[45]  A. Yee,et al.  Toughening mechanisms in thermoplastic-modified epoxies: 1. Modification using poly(phenylene oxide) , 1993 .

[46]  R. Nascimento,et al.  Modification of epoxy resin: a comparison of different types of elastomer , 2005 .

[47]  N. Papke,et al.  13C- und 1H-NMR Analyse eines Nitrilkautschuks mit und ohne Glycidylmethacrylat Pfropfung , 2001 .

[48]  E. Bekyarova,et al.  Enhanced Thermal Conductivity in a Hybrid Graphite Nanoplatelet – Carbon Nanotube Filler for Epoxy Composites , 2008 .

[49]  Y. T. Tan,et al.  Application of nano powdered rubber in friction materials , 2006 .

[50]  F. Bates,et al.  Block Copolymer Toughened Epoxy: Role of Cross-Link Density , 2009 .