1. Université de Lyon, Lyon, F‐69003, France;2. INSA de Lyon, IMP/LMM Laboratoire des Matériaux Macromoléculaires, Villeurbanne, F‐69621, France;3. CNRS, UMR 5223, Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères, Villeurbanne, F‐69621, France;4. Groupement de Recherches de Lacq, ARKEMA, P.O. Box 34, F‐64170 Lacq, France
Abstract:
Nanostructuration of maleate and orthophthalic unsaturated polyester (UP) resins was achieved by the use of high molecular weight amphiphilic PBA‐b‐P(MMA‐co‐DMA)2 triblock copolymers. PBA is fully immiscible in cured UP resins, and the miscibility of P(MMA‐co‐DMA) random copolymers can be ensured with a minimum DMA content of 12 mol‐%. When using the triblock copolymers, fully transparent and nanostructured thermosets are obtained with a minimum DMA content in the outer blocks; the value of which is higher than 12 mol‐% and depends on the UP chemical structure. Finally, the fracture toughness of nanostructured thermoset was evaluated: for a triblock copolymer content as low as 5 wt.‐%, a 50% increase of KIc was obtained, as compared to the neat thermoset.
