Dynamic mechanical properties epoxy-amine system

In order to elaborate the relationship between stoichiometric imbalance of the epoxy-amine system and its resulting elastic properties, a series of reference samples of well-defined concentration ratios r was investigated using dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). A clear increase in the glassy epoxy modulus (as measured at 20 °C) with an increasing excess of epoxy (r< 1) was observed [32]. Notably, the observation of modulus enhancement with increasing excess of epoxy is consistent with the concentration and modulus maps of the PVP/epoxy IP. 

The complex sorption behavior of the water in amine-epoxy thermosets is discussed and related to depression of the mechanical properties. The hypothesized sorption modes and the corresponding mechanisms of plasticization are discussed on the basis of experimental vapor and liquid sorption tests, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermomechanical analysis (TMA) and dynamic mechanical analysis. In particular, two different types of epoxy materials have been chosen low-performance systems of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA) cured with linear amines, and high-performance formulations based on aromatic amine-cured tetraglycidyldiamino diphenylmethane (TGDDM) which are commonly used as matrices for carbon fiber composites. 

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