The Effect of Cross-Link Density on the Toughening Mechanism of Elastomer-Modified Epoxies

A DGEBA epoxide resin (EPON 828) was elastomer modified by using three different carboxyl terminated butadiene acrylonitrile copolymers. The fracture toughness of these elastomer modified epoxies was measured in terms of the critical strain energy release rate, G sub IC. The toughening mechanism was elucidated using a tensile dilatometry technique. A plot of volume strain versus longitudinal strain often reveals the types of micromechanical deformations occurring in the uniaxial tensile specimen up to yield. Several microscopy techniques were employed to corroborate the tensile dilatometry results. The role of matrix ductility on the toughening mechanism of elastomer modified epoxies was investigated. By reducing the cross link density with various equivalent weight epoxide resins. Fracture toughness was again measured in terms of G sub IC. The characterization of the toughening mechanism was performed using a uniaxial tensile dilatometry technique and corroborated using various microscopy techniques.