STUDIES ON EPOXY RESINS MODIFIED WITH POLY (BUTYLENE TEREPHTHALATE)-b-POLY (TETRAMETHYLENE GLYCOL)

Poly(butylene terephthalate )-b-poly (tetramethylene glycol) (PBT-b-PTMG) was usedas rheology modifier for the epoxy resin. The segmental copolymer formed spherulites inthe epoxy medium. This copolymer was very effective in endowing yield stresses to theliquid resin. The PTMG segment brought in a lowering of the dissolution temperature ofthe spherulites in the epoxy gel. The cured resin with PBT-b-PTMG as modifier was two-phase materials. The rheology modifier improved the mechanical properties of the curedresin as well. The flexible PTMG segments, however, were not in favour of the tougheningeffect of the modifier. This was attributed to the large domain size of the dispersed phase.