Tensile, impact and fatigue behavior of an amine‐cured epoxy resin

Abstract

Abstract Although crosslinked networks are commonly used as adhesives and composite matrixes, structure‐property relationships are not as well established as with thermoplastics. For this reason, an extensive study was begun to systematically examine effects of stoichiometry, morphology, and distribution of crosslink density on viscoelastic behavior and ultimate properties. The system selected was based on a bisphenol‐A‐type epoxy cured with methylene dianiline. This paper describes and discusses results obtained for resins in which the amine/epoxy ratio ranged between 0.7 and 2.2. In agreement with reports by others, the tensile strength, modulus, and ultimate elongation were relatively insensitive to stoichiometry but did not show slight maxima or minima when the amine was somewhat in excess. Impact strengths, tensile energies‐to‐break and fracture toughness were, in contrast, quite sensitive, though the patterns of each differed significantly. Both fracture toughness and the stress intensity factor required to drive the crack at a given rate varied directly with the amine/epoxy ratio, as did estimates of the characteristic flaw size. Fatigue striations were observed on the fracture surfaces and corresponded to the incremental advance of the crack in one loading cycle.