Synthesis of star‐shaped epoxy resin with excellent mechanical properties using triazine as a skeleton

• Published in: Journal of applied polymer science 2024-08, Vol.141 (32), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Qiao, Fangke, Ji, Jiawei, Zhao, Chuanqing, Wang, Fan, Deng, Shifeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Epoxy resins; Mechanical properties; Methylene dianiline; Modulus of elasticity; Resin matrix composites; Rings (mathematics); star‐shaped epoxy resin; Storage modulus; Synthesis; Toughness; triazine
• ISSN: 0021-8995; 1097-4628
• DOI: 10.1002/app.55763

The high‐performance development of advanced resin matrix composites has resulted in higher requirements for the mechanical strength and toughness of epoxy resin matrices. However, enhancing the toughness of the epoxy resin while maintaining its mechanical strength remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we utilized triazine rings as the skeleton, and introduced flexible chain segments and other forces into the polymer cross‐linked network to fabricate a star‐shaped epoxy resin (CNE) with exceptional mechanical properties. Benefiting from its meticulously designed rigid‐flexible integrated structure, after curing by 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), it demonstrated outstanding mechanical properties. The storage modulus of CNE/DDM was measured at up to 5.48 GPa; moreover, its tensile modulus and strength went as high as 5.04 GPa and 134.72 MPa respectively, and it also exhibited an elongation at break of up to 3.35%. The mechanical properties of CNE/DDM are far superior to those of AFG‐90 (N,N‐diglycidyl‐4‐glycidyloxyaniline)/DDM. Over all, the findings of this study thus provide an effective synthesis pathway toward achieving epoxy resins with high modulus, strength, and toughness. We prepared a star‐shaped epoxy resin CNE with triazine ring as the skeleton. The tensile modulus and strength are 5.04 GPa and 134.72 MPa respectively, and the elongation at break is as high as 3.35%, which is characterized by high modulus, high strength, and high toughness, making it an ideal base material in the field of advanced resin matrix composites.