Toughened interpenetrating polymer network materials based on unsaturated polyester and epoxy

Abstract

Simultaneous interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on epoxy (diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A) and unsaturated polyester (UP) were prepared by using m-xylenediamine and benzoyl peroxide as curing agents. A single glass transition temperature for each IPN was observed with differential scanning calorimetry, which suggests good compatibility of epoxy and UP. This compatibility was further confirmed by the single damping peak of the rheometric dynamic spectroscopy. Curing behaviors were studied with dynamic differential scanning calorimetry, and the curing rates were measured with a Brookfield RTV viscometer. It was noted that an interlock between the two growing networks did exist and led to a retarded viscosity increase. However, the hydroxyl end groups in UP catalyzed the curing reaction of epoxy; in some IPNs where the hydroxyl concentration was high enough, such catalytic effect predominated the network interlock effect, leading to fast viscosity increases. In addition, the entanglement of the two interlocked networks played an important role in cracking energy absorption and reflected in a toughness improvement. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.