The plasticization of an epoxy resin by dibutylphthalate and water

Abstract

Abstract The glass‐transition temperature of an epoxy resin cured at two different temperatures and plasticized with water and dibutylphthalate has been studied. Both modulus of elasticity and yield stress were measured as a function of temperature to determine the glass‐transition temperature. Drying a saturated material appeared to restore the glass‐transition temperature to its original value but some broadening of the transition occurred. The behavior of an undercured epoxy when saturated with water could not be predicted by theory. A substantial increase in the transition temperature was observed which may have been caused by the presence of water and an expanded structure.