Influence of copolymer's end groups and molecular weights on the rheological and thermomechanical properties of blends of novel thermoplastic copolymers and epoxy resins

In this paper, we present a study on the properties of epoxy resins blended with copolyethersulfones. Several copolyethersulphones were synthesized by varying the molecular weights and the end groups. The obtained thermoplastics were then mixed with diglycidyl ether of biphenol A (DGBEA) (15% wt ratio), cured with methylene bis(2,6‐diethylanine) (MDEA), and the resulting blends characterized by the use of dynamic thermal mechanical analysis (DMTA), rheometry, and fracture mechanics tests. The morphology of the blends was studied by the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The different molecular weights of the copolymers had a significant effect on the rheological and thermomechanical properties of the resins, as well as the different end groups on the reaction rate and on the thermomechanical properties of the blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 101: 250–257, 2006