DIELECTRIC, MECHANICAL AND RHEOLOGICAL STUDIES OF PHASE-SEPARATION AND CURE OF A THERMOPLASTIC MODIFIED EPOXY-RESIN - INCORPORATION OF REACTIVELY TERMINATED POLYSULFONES

Application of dielectric, mechanical and rheological measurements to the characterization of cure and phase separation in a thermoplastic modified epoxy resin is reported. These data indicate that the dielectric technique is. not only useful for monitoring changes in network dynamics during the process of cure, but can also provide valuable information on the phase separation of the occluded phase. The paper discusses the modelling of the dielectric data, and considers the importance of understanding the relationship between morphology and mechanical properties.