(302g) Rate Dependent Response of Crosslinked Epoxy Networks

Epoxy resins are utilized extensively in coatings, paints, adhesives, electronics, and composites due to a combination of processability, stability, and property tunability.  Over the past several decades, substantial research has focused on manipulating the mechanical properties of epoxy resins via control of the polymer structure and chemistry and the incorporation of various additives.  While the quasi-static behavior of these systems has been thoroughly investigated, minimal research has investigated high rate mechanical response.  This presentation will highlight the rate dependent behavior of model epoxy resins as a function of the monomer chemistry, chain structure, and resin morphology.  The mechanisms for improving high rate energy dissipation in bulk epoxy resins are being translated to surface modification approaches that can be exploited to tune the mechanical behavior of epoxy-substrate interfacial regions.  The interfacial chemistry and structure is being characterized utilizing the combination of synchrotron based X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy and Near Edge X-ray Absorption Fine Structure, and correlated with characterization of rate dependent adhesive performance.