The kinetics, thermal and mechanical properties of epoxy-polycarbonate blends cured with aromatic amine

Abstract

PC-DER331 blends are transparent and homogeneous due to the transesterification taking place during hot melting process. This transesterification reaction does not occur or occurs insignificantly during the preparation of PC-DER332 blends. PC is separated from the PC-DER332 melt mixture by slow cooling to room temperature but the mixture remains a single phase by quenching with an ice bath. Two systems of PC-epoxy blends, PC-DER331 blends and PCDER332 blends are cured by the m-phenylene diamine (MPDA) in a stoichiometric ratio. Curing kinetics have been carried out by differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). The presence of PC accelerates the curing reaction. Infrared spectroscopy (IR) indicates the occurrence of transesterification in the PC-DER331/MPDA blends during curing. The flexural modulus increases with the increase of the PC content while the notched Izod impact strength decreases with the increase of the PC content for all the blending systems. The fracture surfaces of the PC-DER331/MPDA blends are smooth, an indication of a homogeneous morphology. The fracture surfaces of the PC-DER332/MPDA blends are rough, an indication of a heterogeneous morphology.