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Toughening of epoxy resin systems using core–shell rubber particles: a literature review

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Abstract

Excellent thermal and mechanical properties and high chemical resistance with low shrinkage of epoxy resins open a wide window of various industrial applications, including coatings, paints, adhesive, etc. Despite their excellent properties, epoxy resins are brittle and have a low resistance to the initiation and growth of cracks. To overcome this drawback, different kinds of reinforcements, including liquid rubbers, core–shell rubber particles, dendritic polymers, block copolymers, thermoplastics, rigid particles, etc., have been used to improve the fracture toughness of epoxy resin systems. This paper briefly introduces each reinforcement separately and mainly presents an in-depth review of the progress of the last decade in the field of toughening of epoxy resins using core–shell rubber particles. This review paper also refers to the results of the research papers published on the effect these rubber particles on the mechanical properties of epoxy resins, as well as explains different toughening mechanisms of epoxy resins. Researchers first focused on the use of core–shell rubber particles containing different cores and shells. They then used core–shell rubber particles along with rigid fillers such as silica to offset the slight diminish in mechanical properties, as well as the glass transition temperature. In recent years, some research teams have used core–shell rubber particles and block copolymers simultaneously and have achieved fascinating results.

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Abbreviations

BCP:

Block copolymers

BR:

Butadiene rubber

CF:

Carbon fiber

CSR:

Core–shell rubber

DICY:

Dicyandiamide

EP:

Epoxy resin

f-PMMA:

Functionalized poly (methyl methacrylate)

G IC :

Fracture energy

GF:

Glass fiber

GO:

Graphene oxide

HBP:

Hyperbranched polymers

K IC :

Fracture toughness

LN2 :

Liquid nitrogen

MBN:

Modified boron nitride

MWCNT:

Multi-walled carbon nanotube

NBR:

Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber

NS:

Nanosilica

PBA:

Poly (butyl acrylate)

PMMA:

Poly (methyl methacrylate)

PPGm:

Chain-extended and epoxy-terminated poly(propylene glycol)

PS:

Difunctional epoxydised polysulfide

PSi:

Polysiloxane

PU:

Poly(polypropylene-glycol)-based polyurethane

RC:

Random copolymer

RT:

Room temperature

SBR:

Styrene–butadiene rubber

T g :

Glass transition temperature

TP:

Thermoplastic

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Polymer Processing, Iran Polymer and Petrochemical Institute, P. O. Box 14965-115, Tehran, Iran

    Seyed Rasoul Mousavi, Sara Estaji, Mahsa Raouf Javidi & Hossein Ali Khonakdar

  2. Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, P. O. Box 61357-83151, Ahvaz, Iran

    Seyed Rasoul Mousavi & Elham Rostami

  3. Department of Chemical Engineering, Mahshahr Branch, Islamic Azad University, Mahshahr, Iran

    Seyed Rasoul Mousavi & Azin Paydayesh

  4. School of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P. O. Box 11155-4563, Tehran, Iran

    Sara Estaji & Seyed Hassan Jafari

  5. Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, Hohe Straße 6, 01069, Dresden, Germany

    Hossein Ali Khonakdar

  6. Nanomaterials and Polymer Nanocomposites Laboratory, School of Engineering, University of British Columbia, Kelowna, BC, V1V 1V7, Canada

    Mohammad Arjmand

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  1. Seyed Rasoul Mousavi
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Mousavi, S.R., Estaji, S., Raouf Javidi, M. et al. Toughening of epoxy resin systems using core–shell rubber particles: a literature review. J Mater Sci 56, 18345–18367 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-021-06329-8

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