Improvement of the impact and crack resistance of epoxy thermosets and thermoset-based composites with the use of thermoplastics as modifiers

Main methods for the modification of epoxy composites that aim to increase their impact and crack resistances are considered with the main attention focused on modification with the use of thermally stable thermoplastics as additives. The influence of various factors (the modifier–matrix chemical bond and the morphology and molecular weight of the modifier) on the physicomechanical characteristics of the composites is discussed. New approaches to the toughening of polymeric composite materials based on epoxy thermosets that involve the use of modified binders or the introduction of a modifier between layers of the composite prepreg are advanced.