Composites Core-shell particle toughening

Chen J. Toughening epoxy polymers and carbon fibre composites with core-shell particles, block copolymers and silica nanoparticles. PhD Thesis, Imperial College London 2013. 

In Secs. 13.2-13.3 the principles of toughening of thermosets by rubber particles, and the role of morphologies, interfacial adhesion, composition, and structural parameters on the toughening effect are analyzed. Section 13.4 is devoted to the use of initially miscible thermoplastics for toughening purposes. The effect of core-shell rubber particles is discussed in Sec. 13.5 and, in Sec. 13.6, miscellaneous ways of toughening thermosets (liquid crystals, hybrid composites, etc.), are analyzed. 

The most common preformed rubber particles used as a toughening agent for epoxy polymers are the so-called structured, core-shell latex particles (Figure 4). These particles typically have a polybutadiene-based core and an acrylate-based shell. Such additives can be purchased as powders from Rohm and Haas or Elf-Atochem and can be purchased as epoxy concentrates from the Dow Chemical Company. The key parameter for these modifiers is the composition of the shell polymer, since the shell chemistry plays a crucial role in the overall blend morphology. It should be noted that it is possible to obtain commercial core-shell latex particles with reactive groups in the shell for improved dispersion of the rubber particles. 

---