Toughening of trifunctional epoxy using an epoxy-functionalized hyperbranched polymer

Chemorheology of curing as well as the phase separation behavior of an epoxy-functionalized hyperbranched polymer (HBP)-modified triglycidyl p-amino phenol (TGAP) epoxy mixtures has been studied by several techniques. There was little change in gel time as a result of addition of HBP up to 10% of HBP, even though the HBP reacts at a slower rate with amine hardeners compared to the TGAP alone. The thermal and dynamic viscoelastic behavior of the modified matrices have been examined and compared with the unmodified TGAP matrix. Finally, impact properties have been discussed in terms of the morphological behavior for a TGAP matrix modified with various amounts of HBP.