Synthesis of star‐shaped epoxy resin with excellent mechanical properties using triazine as a skeleton

Abstract

AbstractThe high‐performance development of advanced resin matrix composites has resulted in higher requirements for the mechanical strength and toughness of epoxy resin matrices. However, enhancing the toughness of the epoxy resin while maintaining its mechanical strength remains a considerable challenge. In this study, we utilized triazine rings as the skeleton, and introduced flexible chain segments and other forces into the polymer cross‐linked network to fabricate a star‐shaped epoxy resin (CNE) with exceptional mechanical properties. Benefiting from its meticulously designed rigid‐flexible integrated structure, after curing by 4,4′‐diaminodiphenylmethane (DDM), it demonstrated outstanding mechanical properties. The storage modulus of CNE/DDM was measured at up to 5.48 GPa; moreover, its tensile modulus and strength went as high as 5.04 GPa and 134.72 MPa respectively, and it also exhibited an elongation at break of up to 3.35%. The mechanical properties of CNE/DDM are far superior to those of AFG‐90 (N,N‐diglycidyl‐4‐glycidyloxyaniline)/DDM. Over all, the findings of this study thus provide an effective synthesis pathway toward achieving epoxy resins with high modulus, strength, and toughness.