Study On Low Viscosity And Moderate Curing Temperature Epoxy Systems

Liquid composites molding (LCM) could be employed in the manufacture of large structure composite such as, wind turbine blades. In such method, the formulated resin matrix should provide low viscosity, adjustable reactivity and high flexibility, and be cured at moderate temperature. Thermoplastic, rubber-elastic and Core-Shell Rubber (CSR) Particles were usually used to improve the toughness of epoxy matrix. However, the curing temperature and viscosity of these systems were too high to meet the requirements of LCM. The flexible curing agents may be explored to enhance the toughness of the resin matrix suitable for LCM.Using IPDA and JeffamineT403 as curing agents, we studied on the basic mechanical properties of low viscosity and moderate curing temperature systems; analyzed tensile fracture surfaces, and the effect of crosslinking density on mechanic properties by the theoretical computation and DMTA method in T403/IPDA/DGEBA systems. Using non-liner isoconversion method, we also studied on the curing kinetics in JeffamineT403 and JeffamineD230, IPDA and DMDC systems. The results shown that Jeffamine T403 could improve the toughness of epoxy systems, most high about 100%; the roughness of fracture surfaces of epoxy casts increased with the addition of T403; the theoretical Me was larger than that of effective Me, which indicated the complexity of curing reaction; four systems have different activation energy, and at the same curing degree, the order of activation energy is IPDA>DMDC>D230> T403. The activity of four curing agents was identical with the activation energy.