Composites based on carbon fibers and liquid crystalline epoxy resins, 1 -Monomer synthesis and matrix curing

Full Paper: The synthesis and physical characterization of a novel liquid c rystalline epoxy resin, used as a matrix far carbon fiber-reinforced compos ites is presented in this paper. The curing reaction was monitored by means of calorimetric and rheological measurements. Calorimetric analysis indica tes that the presence of carbon fibers does not affect the reaction rate. A conventional isotropic epoxy resin is used as a model compound in the rheo logical analysis. According to the patent literature, two different formula tions of the model compound were used, characterized by a stoichiometric ra tio of epoxy and an epoxy excess, respectively, with respect to the curing agent.