Mechanical properties of an epoxy system modified with ABS

In this work, the effect of a thermoplastic modifier (ABS) on the mechanica l properties of an epoxy resin (DGEBA) cured with a diamine (1,3-BAC) was s tudied. The experiments were carried out at three different temperatures. T he effect of the temperature on the mechanical behaviour has been investiga ted too. It was observed that the rise in temperature improved the ductilit y of the modified epoxy systems. The presence of ABS did not produce a clea r enhancement in the toughening of the epoxy resin, this behaviour was expl ained as a function of the high crosslink density reached in the curing cyc le.