Preparation and Characterization of Two Types of Cyanate Ester-epoxy Resin Interpenetrating Network Matrix/Butadiene-acrylonitrile Rubber Composites

Abstract

Two types of butadiene-acrylonitrile rubbers (i.e., carboxyl randomized butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (CRBN) and hydroxyl terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber (HTBN)) have been used for modifying an interpenetrating network of cyanate ester (CE)/epoxy resin (EP) (70/30). The toughness of the matrix can be improved effectively with addition of rubbers. The values of impact strength (11.6 KJ/m²) show a maximum for the CE/EP/HTBN (70/30/8) blend. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) results show that CRBN and HTBN have a different dispersion state in the CE/EP matrix. CRBN aggregates to form regular spheres with a size of about 1 μm. HTBN disperse homogeneously with its size of the nano-level (about 10 nm). Fourier transform infrared spectrum (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) analysis shows that the CRBN has higher reactivity than HTBN. The thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) results shows that T ₁₀ (temperature of 10% weight loss) of the CE/EP system decreases with the addition of rubbers. For the CE/EP/CRBN system, both T ₃₀ (temperature of 30% weight loss) and T ₅₀ (temperature of 50% weight loss) are lower than neat CE/EP. However, for the CE/EP/HTBN system, both T ₃₀ and T ₅₀ are near to neat CE/EP. Different reactivity and compatibility between the rubbers and CE/EP matrix is the main determining factor for the thermal stability of the blends.

Keywords:

• blends
• compatibility
• cyanate ester resin
• epoxy resin
• thermal stability
• toughness

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Number: 10875079), and Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (Grant Number: Y4080448).