RUBBER-MODIFIED EPOXIES .4. ROLE OF CHAIN-ENDS ON THE MORPHOLOGIES AND PROPERTIES

Four reactive liquid rubbers with different end-groups but the same ma in chain (carboxyl-, epoxy-, amino-terminated and non-functional butad iene-acrylonitrile random copolymers) were employed in the same epoxy system, the diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A and 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dime thyldicyclohexyl methane cured at 50-degrees-C. The effects of the end -groups of the liquid rubber on the morphology, phase compositions, su b-structure inside the particles, interface between the phases and the mechanical properties were determined. The effects were related to th e reactivity and the miscibility of the additive.