SYNTHESIS OF CORE-SHELL PARTICLES BY EMULSION POLYMERIZATION FOR THOUGHENING EPOXY NETWORKS

The use of emulsion polymerization to prepare core-shell rubber (CSR) toughening particles with different shell thickness - to - core diamet er ratios is described. The conditions leading controlled particle she ll is crosslinked during the synthesis so that its integrity and morph ology are maintened upon curing of the epoxy network. The mixing of CS R particles with the reactive epoxy and the processing of toughened-ep oxy networks are described. The characteristics of each phase and the mechanical properties of the materials are reported. The fracture para meters (K-Ic, G(Ic)) are discussed in relation to the structure of the CSR particles.