Properties of alkoxysilane functionalized polycaprolactone/ polydimethylsiloxane-modified epoxy resin composites: Effect of curing temperature and compositions

A series of epoxy resin composites containing different contents of alkoxysilane functionalized polycaprolactone/polydimethylsiloxane (PCS-2Si) were prepared after curing with polyamidoamine curing agent at different temperatures. The effects of PCS-2Si content and curing temperature on morphologies, solvent resistance, and surface properties of the composites were studied. The scanning electron microscope results showed that increasing the PCS-2Si content and curing temperature caused the changes of miscibility between epoxy and modifier, leading to different morphologies. Other data from solvent swelling and surface tension of composites cured at the same temperature illustrated that the modified epoxy resins with higher content of PCS-2Si had less crosslinked networks, but lower surface tension. At the same time, the composites cured at higher curing temperature generally had more resistance to chemicals and higher surface tension due to the formation of highly crosslinked networks.