Nano-phase structures and mechanical properties of epoxy/acryl triblock copolymer alloys

Phase structures and mechanical properties of epoxy/acryl triblock copolymer alloys using several curing agents were studied. PMMA-b-PnBA-b-PMMA triblock copolymers synthesized by living anionic polymerization were applied as the toughening modifiers for the epoxy resins. An aromatic amine, an acid anhydride and an anionic polymerization catalyst as curing agents resulted in macro-phase separation in the epoxy/triblock copolymer blends during the cure process. However, a phenol novolac as the curing agent created nano-phase structures in the epoxy blends. The size of the spherical phases or cylindrical phases was about 40 nm in diameter, and the main component in the nano-phases was the PnBA of the triblock copolymer. The fracture toughness of the epoxy/triblock copolymer alloys with the nano-cylindrical phases reached 2530 J/m². The fracture toughness was more than twenty fold relative to the unmodified epoxy resin, and was equivalent to the toughness of polycarbonates.