A. Dufresne et C. Lacabanne, THERMOSTIMULATED CREEP STUDY OF THE ALPHA RETARDATION MODE IN EPOXY-GLASS BEADS COMPOSITES, Polymer composites, 14(3), 1993, pp. 238-246
Thermo-stimulated creep (TSCr) analysis was performed to characterize
the anelastic properties around the glass transition of the model syst
em: epoxy resin-glass beads. Different interphase regions have been de
liberately formed by means of a silane coupling agent and an elastomer
ic adduct coating. In all samples the primary retardation mode, labele
d alpha, has been found around 140-degrees-C. This retardation mode ha
s been associated with the anelastic manifestation of the glass transi
tion of epoxy resin. The relative magnitude of this mode in filled epo
xy has been used to estimate the interphase thickness. By applying ''f
ractional stresses'' the complex alpha peak has been experimentally re
solved and local changes of morphology in the interphase zone are evid
enced in terms of mobility and kinetic of motion. This last technique
has also allowed us to compare the length of the mobile units liberate
d at the glass transition as a function of the filler-matrix interphas
e.