NOVEL REACTIVE LIQUID RUBBER WITH MALEIMIDE END-GROUPS FOR THE TOUGHENING OF UNSATURATED POLYESTER RESINS

An amino-terminated butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer was chemically m odified into a maleimido-terminated rubber and was used as a toughenin g agent for an unsaturated polyester resin. The reactive rubber was ch aracterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical and fracture properties of the blends containing the unmodified and t he modified rubbers were investigated. Furthermore, a morphological an alysis was carried out by scanning and transmission electron microscop y. A substantial enhancement of toughness was found when the modified rubber was used in place of the plain copolymer. (C) 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.