Toughening of Epoxy Composite by Dispersing Polysulfone Particle to Form Morphology Spectrum

Summary Fracture toughness of epoxy composite with polysulfone(PSf) particles to form morphology spectrum was investigated. The epoxy resin was based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A(DGEBA type) and diaminodiphenylsulfone(DDS). 1K carbon fabric was used as the reinforcing material. The morphology spectrum which has gradual change of the morphological feature resulting from the concentration gradient of PSf in the composite can be obtained by spreading PSf particles in between the carbon fiber reinforced epoxy prepregs before cure. The relative rate of the dissolution and diffusion of the PSf particle in the epoxy determine the concentration gradient of the PSf. The fracture toughness of the composite with 21 wt % large size particles was 2.2 times higher than that of the unmodified composite. This result was ascribed to the plastic deformation of the continuous PSf rich phase formed inside the swollen PSf particle.