Epoxy-amine glassy networks are widely used as matrix materials in high performance polymer composites because of their combination of thermal and mechanical properties, processability, and solvent resistance. Because of their innate brittleness, a great deal of effort has been focused on improving the toughness of these materials. General approaches to reduce brittleness involve incorporation of dispersed tougheners, such as rubbers, engineering thermoplastics, and rigid nanoparticles. Hyperbranched polymers provide an alternate route for toughening the glassy matrix with minimal increase in viscosity, due to their highly branched and functional structure, high molecular weights, and low processing viscosity. This paper reports the synthesis of hyperberbranched epoxies (HBE) for incorporation into epoxy-amine matrices, which were modified with polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) nanostructured chemicals. The hyperbranched epoxide and monoamine POSS modified hyperbranched epoxide were characterized through FTIR, 1H NMR, dynamic and static light scattering, MALLS, and rheological experiments. The thermal and mechanical behavior of the epoxy matrices was examined with DMA and uniaxial compression. Fracture toughness was evaluated by single-edge-notch-bending test method following ASTM D5045 and the modified epoxy matrices morphologies were investigated by SEM. POSS modification was found to enhance mechanical performance.<br/>

Hyperbranched epoxy with POSS modification for enhanced toughness polymer composites<br />

249th National Meeting (2015)

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