Rubber-toughened epoxy resins were prepared using the mechanical stirring method and molded into samples by compression molding. The aim of this study is to modify the brittleness of the epoxy matrix by adding discrete rubbery phases to improve the toughness properties. Liquid natural rubber (LNR) and liquid epoxidized natural rubber (LENR) were used as toughening agents in the epoxy resin to compare the properties of the modified networks. The mechanical and thermal properties have been studied to observe the effect ...

Polymer composites of self-reinforced fibres and a matrix composed of the same plastic material display an outstanding mechanical performance and an excellent recyclability. Hence, these materials are suitable for many practical applications. One disadvantage, however, is the narrow processing window that is caused by a strong pressure and temperature sensitivity of the self-reinforced fibres. In this paper, an approach to efficiently model the spatial and temporal temperature evolution is presented. Advanced empirical ...