Modification of Epoxy Resin with Polyether-grafted-Polysiloxane and Epoxy-Miscible Polysiloxane Particles

Polyether-grafted-polysiloxane (FPMS) and epoxy-miscible polysiloxane particles (EMPP) were prepared to improve the toughness of epoxy resin. The chemical structures of the products were characterized by FTIR, H-1 NMR, Si-29 NMR, and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). The morphology of the EMPP was analyzed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The thermal and mechanical properties and morphologies of the polysiloxanes modified epoxy networks were examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), tensile and impact testing, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microspheres were observed in the EMPP modified epoxy network, whereas irregular particles were obtained for the FPMS modified epoxy resin. The FPMS and EMPP effectively improved the tensile and impact strength of the cured epoxies, while the glass transition temperatures (T(g)s) were depressed slightly. Moreover, with the same content of modifiers, the EMPP-modified epoxy network exhibited higher impact strength and lower T(g)s than the FPMS-modified epoxy network.