Moisture absorption behavior of rubber-modified epoxy resins

The moisture absorption behavior of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A/ethylene diamine resins incorporating a carboxy-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile rubber was investigated and associated with their morphology of phase separation. Although the diffusion coefficient of moisture was increased with the rubber content, its activation energy and free volume for moisture diffusion were barely changed until phase inversion occurred. After phase inversion, the free volume was significantly increased, and the activation energy decreased. In addition, the moisture absorption also reduced the beta-transition temperature of the resins and slightly increased the glass-transition temperature before phase inversion. However, the reverse was found after phase inversion. (C) 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.