Properties and structure of high temperature resistant cyanate ester/polyethersulfone blends using solvent-free toughening approach

A high temperature resistant novolac cyanate ester was blended with polyethersulfone (PES) with different molecular weights using the solvent-free approach. The phase separation, curing behavior and thermal properties were studied using hot stage microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and dynamic mechanical analysis. Results showed the difference in the morphology for blends with different molecular weight PES explained by possible network formation. The influence of PES content on the glass transition temperature and mechanical properties was investigated. The most significant toughening effect (increase of 132% in fracture toughness) was achieved on a functionalized low molecular weight PES (20 parts per hundred of resin, phr). Rheology investigation allowed to estimate the optimal content of PES (15 phr) for further prepreg manufacturing.