Characterization of Rubber Epoxy Blends by Thermal Analysis

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the blends ofepoxy cresol novolac (ECN) resin toughened with liquid carboxy terminated butadiene-co-acrylonitrile (CTBN) rubber have been carried out. Exothermal heat of reaction (ΔH) due to crosslinking of the resin in presence of diaminodiphenyl methane(DDM, as amine hardener) showed a decreasing trend with increasing rubber concentration. Enhancements of thermal stability as well as lower percentage mass loss of the epoxy-rubber blends with increasing rubber concentration have been observed in TG. Dynamic mechanical properties reflected a monotonic decrease in the storage modulus (E′) with increasing rubber content in the blends. The loss modulus (E″) and the loss tangent(tanδ) values, however, showed an increasing trend with rise of the temperature up to a maximum (peak) followed by a gradual fall in both cases. Addition of 10 mass% of CTBN resulted maximum E″ and tanδ. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.