Effect of CTBN rubber inclusions on the curing kinetic of DGEBA-DGEBF epoxy resin

The curing kinetics of an epoxy resin matrix, based on diglycil ether of bisphenol A and F (DGEBA-DGEBF), associated with an anhydride hardener, at different carboxyl-terminated copolymer of butadiene and acrylonitrile liquid rubber (CTBN) concentration (0-10 phr) are studied using a differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and a stress-controlled rheometer in isothermal and dynamic conditions. The aim of this work is to correlate the presence of the rubber phase with the transition phenomena that occur during the curing process. The CTBN rubber induces a catalytic effect on the polymerization of the pure resin clearly observed by a significant enhancement of the curing rate. Calorimetric and rheological analysis also evidences that gelation and vitrification times take place not punctually but in a wide range of time. Rheological data show that the presence of rubbery phase induces a higher rate of gel formation during the early stages of the reactions, confirming the calorimetric results. Finally the results are compared with theoretical models evidencing a good fitting between experimental and predictive data. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.