Elastomer-modified epoxy characterization

In a contribution from B. F. Goodrich, Drake and Siebert extensively review the journal and patent literature since 1975 on reactive butadiene/acrylonitrile liquid and solid elastomers used in formulating epoxy structural adhesives. Areas reviewed include the preparation of elastomer-modified epoxy resins, the characterization of rubber-toughened epoxy resins, fracture mechanics and adhesive formulation and testing. 

Consequent to documentation surrounding methods of employing reactive nitrile elastomers to modify epoxy resins is a growing body of literature which serves to characterize and elucidate these systems. Such topics as morphology in the cured and uncured state, transitions from toughening to flexlbilization, viscoelastic effects, equilibrium physical properties and phase structure are available to the investigator (12-17). 

The objective of this section is to characterize the thermal stability of uncured solid rubber-modified epoxy resins. The effects of extended thermal history on melt viscosity and epoxide equivalent weight are discussed. The influence of the type and concentration of CTBN elastomer in the solid rubber-modified epoxy resin on melt viscosity and EEW is also discussed. Mechanistic considerations are proposed to explain the side reactions which influence the thermal stability of solid rubber-modified epoxy resins. 

---