Amphiphilic block copolymers and inorganic nanofillers to enhance performance of thermosetting polymers

摘要

Curable compositions, cured compositions, and methods of forming the same, including an epoxy resin, a curing agent, an amphiphilic toughening agent, and an inorganic nanofiller, wherein the toughening agent forms a second phase having at least one dimension being on the nanometer scale.

主权项

1. A curable composition, comprising:
(a) an epoxy resin; (b) a curing agent; (c) an amphiphilic block copolymer toughening agent that creates a second phase with at least one dimension being on the nanometer scale; and (d) an inorganic nanofiller;wherein the curable composition, when cured, provides a composite containing both a toughening agent, component (c), a nanofiller, component (d), exhibits a fracture toughness of at least 20 percent greater than a composite containing either a toughening agent, component (c) or a nanofiller, component (d), alone.