MISCIBILITY AND FRACTURE-BEHAVIOR OF EPOXY RESIN-NITRATED POLYETHERIMIDE BLENDS

Nitrated polyetherimide (NI-PEI) was obtained by chemically modifying a commercially available polyetherimide (PEI) and was characterized by nuclear magnetic resonance and infra-red spectroscopies, elemental an alysis and viscometry. NI-PEI and NI-PEI/PEI mixtures were blended wit h an epoxy resin (MY0510) which was cured with 3,3'-diaminodiphenolsul fone. The morphology and fracture behaviour of these blends were exami ned by dynamic mechanical thermal analysis and by a three-point bendin g fracture test. A two-phase morphology exists with substantial toughe ning occurring at PEI and NI-PEI concentrations of 5 and 10 wt%.