The effects of reactive diluents on the mechanical behaviour of an anhydride-cured epoxy resin system

A study was made of the tensile behaviour at room temperature, 750C and 1000C, of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A resin systems modified by the introduction of (i) a linear mono-epoxide aliphatic glycidyl ether, (ii) a highly branched mono-epoxide glycidyl ester of a saturated tertiary mono-carboxylic acid, (iii) a mixture of the linear mono-glycidyl and diglycidyl ethers of butanediol and (iv) a low viscosity diepoxide and also an elastomer (Hycar CTBN). Resin systems showing relatively high elongation to failure without severe degradation of strength or stiffness at elevated temperatures were obtained. (author)