Mechanical, thermal and morphological behavior of bismaleimide modified polyurethane-epoxy IPN matrices

An intercrosslinked network of bismaleimide modified polyurethane‐epoxy systems were prepared from the bismaleimide having ester linkages, polyurethane modified epoxy and cured in the presence of 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane. Infrared spectral analysis was used to confirm the grafting of polyurethane into the epoxy skeleton. The prepared matrices were characterized by mechanical, thermal and morphological studies. The results obtained from the mechanical and thermal studies reveal that the incorporation of polyurethane into the epoxy skeleton increases the mechanical strength and decreases the glass transition temperature, thermal stability and heat distortion temperature. Whereas, the incorporation of bismaleimide having ester linkages into polyurethane modified epoxy systems increases the thermal stability, tensile and flexural properties and decreases the impact strength, glass transition temperature and heat distortion temperature. Surface morphology of polyurethane modified epoxy and bismaleimide modified polyurethane‐epoxy systems were studied using scanning electron microscopy. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.