Curing Mechanisms and Mechanical Properties of Cured Epoxy Resins

Epoxy resins can be cured with various kinds of hardeners, which results in many types of epoxy resins with different structures. Here, the relationships between the structures and mechanical properties, particularly dynamic mechanical properties of those resins are reviewed. The structures hardly affect the mechanical properties in the glassy region. The mechanical properties drop rapidly at temperatures higher than the glass transition temperature (Tg). The relationships between the resin structures and Tg are discussed. The factors affecting Tg such as the type of networks, the molecular structure of the initial starting raw materials, and the density of crosslinking (number of functional groups), are considered here.