Strain softening in an epoxy resin

Post-yield behaviour, particularly strain softening, has been studied here for an epoxy resin to examine the effects of postcuring and plasticization by water and a non-volatile diluent dibutylphtalate. The significance of necking was examined by conducting compression tests (at room temperature) as well as tensile tests. In the case of tensile tests, elevated temperatures were used in order to achieve yielding. The amount of strain softening was found to be reduced by postcuring or by the addition of a plasticizer. In the case of postcuring, little change in yield stress occurred, whereas, with plasticizers, a reduction in yield stress does occur.