Regulation of the Phase Structure in the Crystallizing Curing System PCL-DGEBA

Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the formation of various types of phase structures, sizes and compositions were considered. For the studied polycaprolactone-epoxy resin/4,4'-diaminediphenylsulfone system, a phase diagram characterized by amorphous separation with a lower critical solution temperature was constructed and its evolution was traced with increasing conversion degree of epoxy groups. A method is proposed for determining the temperature-concentration parameters that determine the type of phase structure of composite materials, based on the optical interferometry method. All types of phase structures and features of structure formation in the phase reversal region and at its boundaries have been studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy methods. The dimensions of the structural elements were determined and their correlation with the temperature and concentration regimes of the system's curing was established. The composition of phases in cured compositions was studied using FTIR spectroscopy, DSC and scanning electron microscopy. It is shown that by varying the temperature-concentration parameters of curing reactive thermoplastic systems, it is possible to specifically regulate the type of phase structure, phase sizes and their composition, which determine the operational properties of the material.