Abstract
An aromatic ether bismaleimide (BMI) was modified by copolymerization with various CTBN and ATBN liquid elastomers. Dynamic mechanical (DMA), flexural, and SEM fractography studies indicate that cured specimens containing various amounts of the different elastomers have widely varying morphologies and properties. The experimental parameters of interest in this study included the type of elastomer reactive end group, elastomer acrylonitrile content, elastomer concentration, and cure reaction conditions. The ATBNs are clearly more compatible than CTBNs. CTBN modified compositions show a distinct, low temperature rubber phase mechanical loss dispersion, reduced modulus and ultimate strength values, and only slight improvements in elongation. Cured compositions with small amounts of ATBN elastomers (5 phr), however, show no reduction in modulus but improved elongation and ultimate strength values. The βrubberβ domains in these systems are small, typically < 5 ΞΌm, and consist of copolymerized BMI and elastomer. DMA data for these systems show no distinct low temperature elastomer peak but a broad βinterphaseβ loss dispersion covering a wide range of temperatures. Failure in the ATBN modified BMIs involves initiation of numerous microcracks with obvious crack deflection at the rubber particles. No cavitation of rubber particles occurs, as is frequently the case with the CTBNs.