INFLUENCE OF THE ADDITION OF THERMOPLASTIC PREFORMED PARTICLES ON THEPROPERTIES OF AN EPOXY ANHYDRIDE NETWORK/

An anhydride/epoxy system is modified by the introduction of thermopla stic microparticles (ORGASOL(R)). The influence of the presence of pol yamide (PA) particles is evaluated on the reactivity of the epoxy/anhy dride system below the melting temperature of the thermoplastic. Netwo rks containing various amounts of polyamide are prepared using a cure schedule in order to keep the PA particles below their melting point. Both thermomechanical and mechanical behaviours (glass transition temp erature, elastic, plastic and fracture properties) are studied and dis cussed as a function of the polyamide nature, the particle content and the adhesion between the particles and the matrix.